Maddy summaryHB 2974 simplifies license transfers for certain professionals in Missouri, primarily affecting military spouses (both nonresident and resident), law enforcement spouses, and out-of-state licensed professionals. It allows applicants with a valid license from another state (or military branch) for at least one year to skip Missouri’s exams and training requirements if their original jurisdiction had similar standards. Military and law enforcement spouses get expedited processing (30 days) without exams, while standard applicants have six months for review. The bill excludes those with revoked licenses, pending disciplinary actions, or certain occupations like electrical contracting, and does not override existing interstate licensing agreements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryHB 3352 modifies Missouri's physician licensure rules to create two new license types. It allows temporary licenses (up to 12 months) for physicians teaching/lecturing in accredited Missouri medical programs, and transitional licenses (up to 3 years) for physicians with lapsed licenses (after ≤10 years) or foreign-trained physicians certified by ECFMG. Both require meeting most permanent licensure standards but allow waivers for specific experience, and applicants must pass the SPEX exam if required. The bill explicitly prohibits using these licenses for general temporary medical work ("locum tenens"). It does not change standard licensure pathways for most physicians.
Maddy summaryHB 2601 repeals a law that allowed state agencies to suspend professional licenses (such as for doctors, lawyers, or contractors) due to unpaid state taxes or failure to file tax returns. This change directly affects licensed professionals who might have faced license suspension over tax issues. The bill removes the authority to use license suspension as a penalty for tax non-compliance, replacing it with standard fee collection processes. It does not alter tax obligations but ensures license status is no longer tied to tax payment. The bill focuses solely on removing this specific enforcement mechanism.
Maddy summaryHB 2602 proposes to exempt registered harm reduction programs from penalties for distributing needles/syringes under state drug laws. It creates a registration process through the Department of Health and Senior Services, requiring programs to partner with mental health/substance use treatment providers and avoid locations within 500 feet of schools (unless the school existed before the program opened). The bill directly affects registered syringe access programs, their staff, and volunteers who distribute or manufacture needles/syringes solely for these programs. This would make such activities legal under the law, removing criminal penalties for these specific actions. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled, first reading).
Maddy summaryHB 2643, the "Hope for Missouri Patients Act," creates a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating conditions to access individualized investigational treatments based on their unique genetic profile. It directly affects eligible patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments, received a physician recommendation for personalized therapy, and provided written informed consent. Key provisions require facilities to comply with federal human subjects protections and define "individualized investigational treatment" as drugs or devices produced exclusively for a patient using their genomic data (excluding those derived from abortion or embryonic stem cells). The bill mandates specific consent documentation detailing treatment alternatives and potential outcomes, without authorizing new drugs or altering FDA approval processes.
Maddy summaryHB 2592 would restore voting rights to Missouri residents convicted of a felony who are on probation or parole, removing a current barrier that prevents them from voting until their supervision ends. The bill amends state law to eliminate the provision that disqualifies individuals "while on probation or parole" after a felony conviction, directly affecting thousands of Missourians under community supervision. Key provisions would allow these individuals to register and vote in all elections once they meet standard residency and registration requirements, without waiting for full discharge from supervision. This change specifically applies to felony convictions, not misdemeanor offenses or incarceration, and aligns with broader efforts to expand voting access for people with past criminal convictions.
Maddy summaryHB 2591 modifies Missouri's requirements for becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist. It adds a new requirement that applicants must complete a supervised clinical fellowship under a licensed speech-language pathologist after meeting educational and exam standards. The bill specifies that this fellowship period must follow the completion of a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited program and submission of equivalent coursework transcripts. Applicants with an audiology clinical doctoral degree are exempt from this fellowship requirement. The changes apply directly to individuals seeking licensure in this profession.
Maddy summaryHB 3467 would allow counties to impose a 0.5% sales tax on most retail purchases (excluding exempt items) to fund developmental disability services, but only if voters approve it in a separate election. The tax revenue must be used exclusively for sheltered workshops, residences, or related services for people with developmental disabilities. Counties could not implement this tax without voter approval, requiring a "YES/NO" ballot measure specifying the tax amount and purpose. This tax would be in addition to existing sales taxes and must be deposited into a dedicated fund for the specified services.
Maddy summaryHB 3010 sets strict time limits for health insurance companies on prior authorization decisions for medical services. It requires insurers to make initial review decisions within 36 hours, provide phone notifications within 24 hours for both approvals and denials, and send written confirmation within 1-2 working days. The bill specifically extends approval validity to 12 months for chronic conditions (like cancer treatment) and prohibits billing patients for services with valid prior authorization, except for standard cost-sharing. These rules apply directly to health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients enrolled in health benefit plans.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a dedicated "Division of Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund" in Missouri's state treasury, funded primarily by a portion of sales taxes from tourism-related businesses (such as hotels, attractions, and travel services, identified by specific SIC codes). The fund's annual deposits are capped at $3 million more than the previous year's amount and are calculated using tourism sales tax revenue. Before spending from the fund, the Division of Tourism must submit a marketing strategy to legislative committees for review. The fund expires on June 30, 2020, and its money cannot be returned to the general revenue fund at the end of a biennium.