Rep. John Simmons

Maddy summaryHB 530 prohibits health insurance plans and issuers from discriminating against healthcare providers based on their state license or scope of practice. It requires equal reimbursement rates for the same medical service when provided within a provider’s licensed scope, applying to all health insurance plans in the state. The law allows insurers to set different rates based on quality or performance metrics but enforces federal nondiscrimination standards under Section 2706 of the Public Health Service Act. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) and insurers operating in the state’s health insurance market.

Maddy summaryHB 459 prohibits Missouri state and local agencies from enforcing any "red flag law" that would seize firearms from citizens without a court trial. It blocks the use of federal funds to support such enforcement and bans law enforcement from complying with federal or state orders requiring firearm seizures. The bill directly affects Missouri residents who might face such seizures and state agencies responsible for law enforcement. Violating the law could trigger $50,000 penalties per incident and allow affected citizens to sue for damages.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the percentage of tangible personal property used to calculate property taxes in Missouri over a three-year period, affecting business owners and other individuals who own taxable personal assets. Starting in 2026, the assessment rate for tangible personal property will decrease by approximately 5.56% each year, dropping from 33.33% in 2025 to 18% for 2028 and beyond. The legislation also establishes specific, lower assessment rates for certain categories of property, including agricultural items, historic vehicles, and pollution control equipment. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for property assessment, including requirements for assessors to create assessment maintenance plans and rules for computer-assisted valuation methods.

Maddy summaryHB 684 modifies how ballot summaries are prepared for constitutional amendments or bills without fiscal notes that go to voters. It requires the Secretary of State to create a neutral, concise summary (max 150 words) after consulting the bill's sponsor and legislative leaders, with the Attorney General approving its legal content within 10 days. Once approved, the summary must appear on the ballot exactly as written, and courts cannot alter it - though the legislature can correct errors if in session. This directly affects voters who rely on these summaries to understand ballot measures and election officials responsible for ballot language.

Maddy summaryHB 1247 prohibits state and local governments from requiring licenses for contractors performing industrial mechanical maintenance work at manufacturing facilities. Specifically, it removes the need for local or state licenses for contractors employed at industrial facilities to maintain mechanical systems within those sites. The bill defines "industrial mechanical maintenance work" as maintenance of machinery or equipment inside facilities where manufacturing occurs (as defined by Missouri's zoning and Standard Industrial Classification standards). This directly affects contractors working in manufacturing settings, eliminating a specific licensing requirement for their maintenance tasks. The bill is currently in committee referral after recent hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 1231 proposes restrictions on foreign entities accessing Missouri's critical infrastructure, directly affecting companies and government entities managing systems like energy, water, telecommunications, and transportation. The bill prohibits agreements allowing foreign adversaries (as defined by federal standards) to remotely access or control infrastructure, requiring companies to obtain certifications, conduct background checks on employees, store data domestically, and report security incidents. Exceptions are permitted only if no alternatives exist, the contract is pre-approved by the Department of Public Safety, and the risk is deemed lower than not proceeding. The law also mandates government notification for foreign-owned infrastructure sales and establishes a 30-day review process for potential security threats.

Maddy summaryHB 1246 prohibits using fetal organs or tissue from abortions for medical, research, or therapeutic purposes if the abortion was specifically intended for that use. It directly affects medical providers, researchers, and facilities handling fetal remains, banning financial incentives for pregnancy or abortion solely to obtain tissue. Key provisions ban selling fetal tissue (except for burial or medical exams), offering money to induce pregnancy for tissue donation, or using tissue from abortions procured for donation. The bill includes an exception allowing payment for burial or pathological examinations of fetal remains.

Maddy summaryHB 949 modifies how utility companies (gas, water, and sewer corporations) set rates by allowing them to use a "future test year" starting July 2026 instead of the current year for rate calculations. Utilities requesting this option must update rates 45 days after the future test year ends based on actual costs, and if actual costs are lower than projected, they must return the difference to customers through a regulatory liability. The bill prohibits utilities from recovering investment costs made during the test year period and requires them to file updated rates reflecting actual expenses. This change affects rate-setting procedures for utilities and ensures cost savings are passed to customers rather than retained by the companies.

Maddy summaryHJR 91 proposes a constitutional amendment to modify term limits for Missouri General Assembly members. Beginning January 1, 2032, no legislator could serve more than 12 years in one chamber or 20 years total across both chambers. The amendment also limits the speaker of the House to four years in that role and the Senate president pro tempore to six years. These changes would directly affect current and future legislators approaching or exceeding existing term limits under Missouri's current rules.

Maddy summaryHB 1128 modifies Missouri's primary election rules by requiring voters to be registered with a political party as of the 23rd Tuesday before a primary election to vote in that party's primary. It updates voter data handling, allowing election authorities to provide limited registration information (including names, addresses, and party affiliation) to candidates and political parties for a fee, while restricting public internet access and commercial use. The bill also adds privacy protections for vulnerable voters, such as undercover law enforcement officers and domestic violence victims, by enabling them to close their residential addresses on voter records to prevent safety risks. Additionally, it specifies that written changes to party affiliation must be submitted in advance, with changes made within 23 weeks of a primary not taking effect until after the election.