Rep. Melissa Schmidt

Maddy summaryHB 1740 updates the state's point system for driving violations, affecting drivers who accumulate points on their license record. It sets specific thresholds for license suspension (e.g., 8 points in 18 months) and revocation (12 points in 12 months), while allowing drivers to avoid full suspension by installing an alcohol interlock device in their vehicle. License reinstatement requires proof of financial responsibility (like insurance) and takes 30-90 days depending on prior suspensions, with shorter timelines for first-time offenses. The bill also clarifies that points cannot be reduced during suspension periods and mandates reinstatement fees for suspended drivers.

Maddy summaryHB 3445 requires licensed child care facilities serving children with medical needs (as documented by a provider statement) to collaborate with local schools or private education agencies when parents consent. Specifically, facilities must refer families to support services, coordinate care plans for children turning three, create specialized care plans following best practices, and train staff to meet those needs. This directly affects child care facilities enrolled with medically specialized children, mandating structured support through educational partnerships. The bill aims to improve coordination between child care providers and educational systems for these children. It is currently in early legislative stages, having been introduced in February 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1930 makes it a class D misdemeanor to knowingly approach within 50 feet of a first responder after receiving an oral warning not to, if the person intends to block their work, threaten them with harm, or harass them. It directly affects individuals who interfere with police, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel (including hospital staff in emergency settings) while they are performing their duties. The law defines "harass" as causing substantial emotional distress without a legitimate purpose. Violations carry penalties including fines or jail time for this new offense.

Maddy summaryHB 1929 modifies Missouri's law on dangerous dogs by defining the offense as owning a dog that has previously bitten without provocation and then bites again, or a dog that causes serious injury or death on its first bite. Penalties range from a class B misdemeanor for minor bites to a class D felony if the dog causes death, based on injury severity. The bill requires seized dogs to be held for 10 business days before destruction, but allows owners to appeal in court within 30 days to challenge the destruction. However, if a dog attacks someone engaged in criminal activity (excluding minor trespass), the owner is not liable and the dog is not destroyed.

Maddy summaryHB 1931 requires arrest warrants issued for crimes in Missouri to remain private in electronic court systems until the arrest is actually made. This affects law enforcement agencies and courts that use digital case management tools, preventing public or unauthorized access to warrant details before an arrest occurs. The bill amends Missouri law (RSMo § 544.076) to ensure warrant information is not visible online until execution, overriding conflicting court rules about case record access. It directly changes how warrant data is handled in Missouri’s electronic systems, focusing on confidentiality during the pre-arrest phase.

Maddy summaryHB 2031, the "Children Harmed by AI Technology Act" (or "CHAT Act"), requires companies operating AI chatbots designed to simulate emotional or therapeutic interactions (called "companion AI chatbots") to verify users' ages and implement child safety measures. It directly affects minors under 18 and the companies providing these chatbots in Missouri. Key provisions include mandating age verification for all users, requiring parental consent and a linked parental account for minors, blocking minors' access to sexually explicit or suggestive content, and displaying a clear pop-up notification at the start of every chat and every 60 minutes to confirm users are interacting with AI, not a human. The law also sets requirements for protecting age data confidentiality and outlines enforcement by Missouri's attorney general.

Maddy summaryHB 2406 requires state agencies to notify Missouri's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules before finalizing any new rule that would cost over $250,000 annually for state agencies or significantly impact businesses or individuals financially. The bill mandates a 30-day waiting period after committee notification and requires the legislature to approve such rules via a concurrent resolution before they can take effect. This applies to most administrative rules, making them unenforceable without following these steps, though exceptions exist for rules needed for federal compliance or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 2536 repeals two existing Missouri law sections (1.020 and 163.048) and replaces them with five new sections defining terms for legal use. The bill specifically adds definitions for "Female" (describing reproductive anatomy related to egg production) and "Male" (describing reproductive anatomy related to sperm production), alongside standard legal terms like "certified mail" and "county attorney." This is a definitional bill, not a substantive policy change, as it establishes terminology for use in other statutes rather than creating new protections or programs. The bill does not directly affect any specific group or mandate new actions beyond clarifying existing legal language.

Maddy summaryHB 2335 requires Missouri school districts to establish written discipline policies that include corporal punishment procedures (with parental written consent required) and specify how to handle student violence, disabilities, and confidentiality. It mandates annual training for all school employees on these policies, including handling school violence and student education plans. The bill also requires schools to report specific violent crimes and drug offenses to law enforcement and restricts suspended students from being within 1,000 feet of school property unless under adult supervision or meeting specific exceptions. This directly affects school employees, administrators, students (especially those with disabilities or involved in discipline incidents), and school safety protocols.

Maddy summaryHCR 29 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress to reinstate mandatory country-of-origin labeling for meat products. It specifically calls for requiring labels to show whether beef or pork was born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S., reversing a 2015 repeal of a similar 2008 law. The resolution states this labeling would help consumers identify truly American-made meat and support U.S. farmers and ranchers by distinguishing domestic products from imported ones processed in the U.S. It does not create new law but formally expresses Missouri's support for this policy change.