Rep. Mark Matthiesen

Maddy summaryHB 3177 prevents lawsuits against racing facilities (like racetracks and supporting areas) for typical activities such as noise, traffic, or dust, provided they operate with all required permits and in compliance with laws. It specifically shields facilities from nuisance claims by nearby property owners who purchased land or built structures *after* the facility obtained its permits and established legal rights. The law does not protect facilities that violate environmental, safety, or noise laws, or engage in reckless conduct. This applies to both private lawsuits and government enforcement actions.

Maddy summaryHB 3305 requires public and charter schools serving grades 7-12 to implement suicide prevention training for educators and mental health awareness for students. Starting in 2023-24, school districts must provide at least two hours of annual suicide prevention training for all teachers and staff, including specific instruction on the Columbia Protocol (C-SSRS) and a virtual mental health tool by 2027-28. The bill also mandates that student ID cards display the 988 suicide lifeline number starting July 2025. Additionally, it requires high school students (grades 9-12) to receive mental health awareness instruction integrated into existing health or physical education courses beginning 2022-23. These provisions directly affect all public and charter schools, educators, and students in participating districts.

Maddy summaryHB 2883 modifies Missouri's "Show-Me Sports Investment Act" to govern state funding for professional sports facilities. It allows the state to provide financial assistance (up to the facility's baseline tax revenues annually) to MLB or NFL teams for new or upgraded athletic venues with seating over 30,000, requiring projects to cost at least $500 million. The bill restricts funding to exclude tax revenues from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in specific counties and caps state spending at 50% of project costs via bonds over a 30-year period. This directly affects professional sports franchises seeking state support for facility development in Missouri.

Maddy summaryHB 1799 allows property taxpayers in local political subdivisions to petition for a reduction in their area's combined property tax rate through a voter-approved process. Taxpayers must gather signatures equal to 5% of voters in the last election for the governing body, pay verification fees (up to $0.50 per signature), and submit the petition to the local election authority. If approved by a majority vote in the next general election, the tax rate is reduced by the approved percentage - capped at 5% - but cannot affect taxes for debt service or be proposed more frequently than every four years. This bill directly affects homeowners and property owners in cities, counties, or other local governments that levy property taxes.

Maddy summaryHB 1801 changes the definition of "qualified student" for Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. It specifies that a qualified student must be a Missouri resident not classified as an "illegal alien" and must either have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) under federal special education law or meet income requirements (300% of free/reduced lunch standards) while also meeting enrollment criteria like having attended public school full-time for a semester or being kindergarten-ready. This bill directly affects students seeking scholarship funds to attend participating private, charter, or public schools. The key change replaces the prior definition with these specific eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2507 requires labor organizations in Missouri to wait until a new employee completes 250 hours of work before collecting union dues. This directly affects new employees who join unions, giving them a 250-hour "grace period" to work before dues are required. The bill mandates that employers provide new hires with a written accounting of all dues owed, including how calculations are made, and requires the employee to sign an acknowledgment of this notice before starting work. The law does not prevent voluntary dues payments during the grace period or apply to existing collective bargaining agreements signed before the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts small, portable solar devices (under 1,200 watts that plug into standard outlets) from most public utility regulations. It requires electricity providers to offer net metering for these devices, allowing homeowners to receive credits for excess energy sent back to the grid, with credits applied to future bills and expiring after 12 months. The law specifically targets moveable units certified by safety labs like UL, not fixed rooftop systems. It does not change existing rules for larger solar installations or utility-scale projects.

Maddy summaryHB 3105, titled the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," protects Missouri residents' right to possess firearms by declaring federal gun regulations within the state invalid if they exceed constitutional limits. It grants the state attorney general or county prosecutors authority to sue federal officials for infringing on these rights and requires disciplinary action for law enforcement officers who knowingly violate them. The bill also affirms Missouri's exclusive authority to regulate firearms, including maintaining the existing federal excise tax on firearms, which it states does not restrict lawful ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 1802 repeals and replaces Missouri election laws to allow political party representatives to designate election challengers who can observe voting and ballot counting. Specifically, party chairs may appoint registered voters in the jurisdiction as challengers for polling places (during all voting hours) and absentee ballot counting locations (during absentee voting and counting periods). Challengers must be verified as eligible by election authorities before the election, and may only raise concerns about potential election law violations to election judges or authorities. This bill directly affects political parties' ability to monitor election processes at polling sites and counting locations.

Maddy summaryHB 2859 reduces the tax assessment rate for specific personal property in Missouri. It lowers the percentage used to calculate taxes on qualifying farm machinery and motor vehicles (manufactured 10+ years prior) from 33.3% down to 16% by 2041, phased annually starting in 2027. The bill directly affects owners of these older farm and vehicle assets, who would see lower annual property tax bills once the tax rate reductions take effect. The law also provides a full tax exemption for these items if Missouri voters approve a related constitutional amendment.