Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg

Maddy summaryHB 3169 requires Missouri's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) to cover doula services for eligible pregnant women, including support during prenatal care, childbirth, and the postpartum year. It expands existing coverage by allowing doula attendance at scheduled cesarean sections and increasing covered support sessions from six to sixteen total. The bill also mandates that all private health insurance plans in Missouri must cover doula services starting January 1, 2027, with exceptions for supplemental policies like accident-only or short-term plans. This directly affects pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in MO HealthNet or private insurance, ensuring access to nonmedical support from trained doulas.

Maddy summaryHB 3232 requires utility companies in the state with more than 25% foreign ownership to either sell that foreign stake or stop operating within the state by December 31, 2041. It directly affects large utility providers with significant foreign investment. The law mandates divestment or exit by the 2041 deadline, with the Attorney General authorized to enforce compliance. This is a substantive policy change altering ownership requirements for foreign-controlled utilities.

Maddy summaryHB 3233 prohibits wearing face coverings at any assembly held in or on public buildings, affecting attendees at events like meetings, rallies, or gatherings in government facilities. The bill includes two key exemptions: face coverings worn for health and safety (such as during illness) or for religious reasons are allowed. It directly changes current practices by restricting face coverings at these public events, except where health or religious needs apply. The bill does not address private property or other settings beyond public building assemblies.

Maddy summaryHB 2854 requires government agencies to use competitive bidding for energy-saving building projects and to secure contracts guaranteeing that energy or operational savings will cover the project costs within 15 years, with the provider reimbursing any shortfall annually. Eligible projects include insulation, energy-efficient lighting, HVAC upgrades, and other defined measures that reduce energy consumption or operating costs. The bill exempts certain educational not-for-profits and ensures existing construction procurement rules remain in effect.

Maddy summaryHB 2891 allows small municipalities (with 2,000 or fewer residents) to skip nonpartisan elections when only one candidate files for each open position and no ballot measures are on the ballot. Instead of holding a vote, candidates automatically assume office, and the election authority must publish candidate names in a local newspaper before the scheduled election date. The bill also standardizes candidate filing procedures, requiring random ballot ordering for first-day filers and clarifying election authority responsibilities. This rule applies to all qualifying nonpartisan elections in adopted communities for six years after voter approval. It directly affects small-town election processes in Missouri, reducing administrative costs for municipalities with uncontested races.

Maddy summaryHB 2932, as detailed in the provided text, focuses on educational stability for foster care children and preventing high school dropouts. It requires school districts to prioritize a child’s school of origin during foster care placements (if the new location is over 10 miles away), ensures grades aren’t penalized for absences due to foster care transitions or court appearances, and mandates credit acceptance for coursework completed in any public, nonpublic, or nonsectarian school. The bill also allocates state funds for competitive grants to public colleges, universities, and community organizations to provide dropout prevention services - including tutoring, counseling, and family support - to at-risk students, with services required to occur at nonsectarian sites for nonpublic school students. These provisions aim to reduce educational disruptions for vulnerable youth while ensuring equitable access to support programs.

Maddy summaryHB 3013 requires counties to hold elections for planning commission members during regular countywide primary elections instead of separate local votes. This affects county planning commissions and township voters in counties that have adopted or choose to adopt county planning and zoning. The bill mandates that voters in each township elect one member during the primary election, with staggered terms of two or four years. Elected members replace previously appointed commissioners, streamlining the process for local governance.

Maddy summaryHB 2696 shifts responsibility for most circuit court expenses from local counties to the state treasury, requiring that all such expenditures (except salaries, clerk hire, and municipal court divisions) be paid from the state. The bill repeals prior laws and establishes new budget procedures: circuit courts must submit spending estimates to county officials, and disputes over these estimates must be reviewed by the judicial finance commission. This directly affects all 40 Missouri circuit courts and their counties, moving financial accountability for court operations from local governments to the state. The law aims to standardize funding and reduce budget conflicts between counties and courts.

Maddy summaryHB 2407 defines key terms related to adult entertainment venues and performances in Missouri. It establishes "adult cabaret" as businesses (like nightclubs) where performers regularly appear in partial nudity or seminudity during duties, and "adult cabaret performance" as similar acts outside such venues (e.g., topless or exotic dancing). The bill restricts exterior advertising for these businesses, prohibiting signs within one mile of state highways except for two permitted signs on the premises. It directly affects businesses operating adult entertainment venues and performers, creating clear legal definitions to regulate their operations and location restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 1811 establishes Missouri's process for appointing commissioners and alternates to attend an Article V convention, which is a meeting to propose changes to the U.S. Constitution. The bill requires one commissioner and one alternate per congressional district (eight each for Missouri), with commissioners needing to be Missouri residents meeting state House qualifications but excluding U.S. lawmakers, federal employees, and certain other officials. The Missouri House and Senate must select commissioners via a concurrent resolution, ensuring at least one-third are not current legislators. Commissioners must swear to follow the legislature's instructions for the convention, including only considering amendments that align with Missouri's application, and report any violations by fellow delegates.