Rep. Mitch Boggs

Maddy summaryHB 2548 establishes a covenant marriage option in Missouri, allowing couples to enter into a marriage with additional legal commitments beyond standard marriages. To qualify, couples must complete a written declaration of intent, receive at least eight hours of premarital counseling from a religious leader or counselor on covenant marriage’s lifelong nature and limited divorce grounds, and provide notarized attestations verifying the counseling. The covenant marriage license is legally equivalent to a standard marriage license, granting identical rights and benefits. Existing married couples can convert their marriage to a covenant marriage by submitting a notarized declaration without needing additional counseling.

Maddy summaryHB 2544 limits liability for injuries during equine or livestock activities by shielding sponsors, professionals, owners, and facilities from claims related to "inherent risks" like animal behavior, terrain hazards, or participant negligence. It directly affects participants in activities such as horseback riding, shows, training, or livestock events who might otherwise sue organizers. Key exceptions allow liability if faulty equipment caused harm, if organizers failed to assess participant safety, or if they ignored dangerous conditions without warning signs. The bill also requires sponsors to post visible safety warnings at facilities.

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 2741 requires commercial drivers applying for a license to demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to converse with the public, understand traffic signs, respond to officials, and complete reports. It makes operating a commercial vehicle without this proficiency a class D misdemeanor (first offense) or class B misdemeanor (repeat), with fines up to $1,000 for drivers and $3,000 for carriers. Drivers must achieve proficiency before operating commercially again, and carriers face penalties for employing non-compliant drivers. The bill directly affects foreign applicants and commercial drivers seeking or holding licenses in the state. It modifies existing requirements to add language proficiency as a mandatory qualification for commercial driver's licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 2297 allows property owners (or their contractors) to enter a neighbor's land up to 10 feet along a shared boundary to build, maintain, or repair a fence enclosing animal areas, without facing trespass charges. This applies only to fence work directly on the boundary line, and owners remain liable for any damage caused to crops or property beyond the 10-foot limit. The bill excludes utility companies, railroads, and accredited zoos/sanctuaries from this provision, and explicitly prohibits entering buildings on neighboring property. It directly affects rural landowners and fence contractors who need to work on boundary lines.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HB 2481) corrects a misleading title: it does **not** restrict SNAP food purchases but instead requires proof of immigration status for SNAP and other public benefits. It mandates that applicants provide documentary evidence of U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or lawful presence (e.g., driver’s license documents or federal immigration status verification) at application and during eligibility reviews. The bill requires state agencies to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to confirm immigration status, with temporary benefits allowed via sworn affidavit for up to 90 days or until birth certificate verification is complete. It directly affects immigrants applying for SNAP, housing assistance, or other state/local public benefits requiring immigration status verification.

Maddy summaryHB 2547 requires anyone placing a surveillance or game camera on private property to first get written consent from the landowner or their representative, or obtain a search warrant under Missouri or U.S. constitutional protections. It directly affects property owners, hunters, security personnel, and others who might use such cameras on private land. The bill also allows law enforcement to place cameras only if facing publicly accessible areas within 100 feet of the location, with approval from the top law enforcement officer. The bill passed the Missouri House with 9-1 support after public hearings.

Maddy summaryHB 3480 modifies Missouri's Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act to clarify eligibility for firefighters seeking free college tuition under the program. It requires firefighters to have at least six years of service, hold a valid fire safety certification, and work full-time in active firefighting duties (excluding volunteers or clerical roles). Eligible firefighters can use the benefit for associate or bachelor's degrees in fields like fire science, emergency management, or related health sciences, covering up to 100% of resident tuition. Dependents of firefighters with ten years of service also qualify for similar tuition coverage under the same terms.