Sen. Mike Cierpiot

Maddy summarySB 838 modifies Missouri's renewable energy standard by establishing phased requirements for electric utilities: 2% renewable energy by 2013, increasing to 5% by 2017, 10% by 2020, and 7.5% annually starting in 2021. At least 2% of each utility's requirement must come from solar energy. The bill also creates an "accelerated renewable buyer" program for large commercial customers (over 80 average megawatts) that contract directly for renewable energy, allowing them to exclude that energy from utility compliance calculations and receive exemptions from renewable energy compliance costs. These changes directly affect Missouri's electric utilities and qualifying large commercial energy buyers.

Maddy summarySB 1791 establishes specific contribution limits for candidates who fund their own campaigns (self-funded candidates). This bill directly affects candidates running for office who use personal funds to support their election efforts. The key provision sets clear numerical limits on how much a self-funded candidate may contribute to their own campaign. The bill is currently in its initial stage, having received its first reading on February 26, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 935 allows any Missouri citizen to challenge a ballot measure's official title or fiscal note in Cole County Circuit Court within 10 days of certification. The bill requires courts to prioritize these cases and mandates specific revisions to the summary statement (up to three times) if deemed insufficient, with the secretary of state submitting revised versions under strict deadlines. If revisions fail, the court can write the final summary for ballot inclusion. This directly affects citizens challenging measures, the secretary of state, and state auditors as defendants, streamlining legal review for statewide ballot measures.

Maddy summarySJR 66 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change Missouri's property tax system. It classifies property into three main subclasses (residential, agricultural, and commercial/industrial) and sets a 33.3% cap on assessed value for all classes. The amendment would allow the state legislature to limit annual increases in tax liability for residential and agricultural properties (class 1). This proposal requires voter approval in 2026 to take effect, as it amends Article X of the Missouri Constitution. It directly affects property owners in Missouri, particularly those with residential and agricultural land.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 65) would change Missouri's process for qualifying initiative petitions. It requires constitutional amendment petitions to gather signatures from 8% of voters in two-thirds of congressional districts (down from the current 10% statewide), and law petitions from 5% of voters. The bill also mandates that all initiative petitions contain only a single subject and require a concise 100-word summary statement approved by the secretary of state, which courts can block if inaccurate. These changes would directly affect voters gathering signatures and petitioners seeking to place measures on Missouri ballots.

Maddy summarySB 839 would move all Missouri school board elections to the November general election in even-numbered years, starting in 2028. This change affects all public school districts in Missouri, requiring elected school board members to serve four-year terms beginning in 2028. Current members with terms expiring in odd-numbered years would serve until the next November election, and elections would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The bill modifies Missouri Revised Statutes to establish this new election schedule for all school board positions.

Maddy summarySB 837 requires local governments (like cities or counties) to hold elections on tax increases during existing general or primary elections, not on separate special elections. This applies to all new taxes, license/fee proposals, or increases to existing taxes after August 28, 2026. The bill mandates that these proposals be scheduled on standard election days to align with regular voting cycles. It directly affects local governing bodies that seek voter approval for tax-related changes. The policy change aims to simplify election scheduling and potentially increase voter participation for tax decisions.

Maddy summarySB 934 modifies Missouri's process for amending birth certificates. It requires court orders for name changes and limits sex marker changes to cases involving a medically verified condition (excluding hormone therapy alone). The bill mandates that paternity acknowledgments include parental counseling about legal consequences and requires both parents' notarized consent for birth certificate changes. Birth certificates must be marked "Amended" with the reason and date of change, and the state must notify other record keepers of updates.

Maddy summarySB 936 reauthorizes a Missouri income tax deduction for contributions to "long-term dignity savings accounts," primarily benefiting individual taxpayers who use these accounts for qualifying expenses. It allows a 100% deduction of contributions up to $4,000 (or $8,000 for married couples filing jointly) from taxable income, with earnings in these accounts exempt from state income tax. The deduction requires taxpayers to verify contributions via an affidavit, and any distributions not used for eligible expenses must be added back to taxable income. The program expires automatically on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized by the legislature.

Maddy summarySB 100 modifies the existing rules and procedures for amending birth certificates. This bill directly affects individuals who need to make changes or corrections to their birth records. The specific details of these modifications are not provided in the abstract.