Rep. Ron Fowler

Maddy summaryHB 1613 moves elections for county planning commission members to coincide with regular countywide general elections. This affects voters in townships within counties that have planning commissions, requiring them to elect one representative per township during existing general elections. The bill replaces previously appointed commissioners with elected members, establishing four-year terms with overlapping two-year terms for half the members. It also specifies that elected members serve without pay but receive expense reimbursement, while the county highway engineer remains an ex officio member.

Maddy summaryHB 2539 requires all Missouri public school districts, schools, and charter schools to publish standardized annual report cards online by specific deadlines, detailing student performance, finances, and staff data to meet federal requirements. It establishes a new A-F rating system based on student achievement (40% for K-8, 25% for high schools), academic growth metrics, and for high schools, a "Success Ready Graduate" measure tracking college credits, career credentials, or advanced exams. Top-performing schools in the top 5% for performance or growth receive performance-based funding ($100/student) starting after the 2026-27 assessments, with funds used for staff bonuses. The bill directly affects schools, parents, and taxpayers through transparent accountability measures and ties funding to specific, measurable outcomes.

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 1675 limits when health insurance companies (health carriers) can require doctors and hospitals (health care providers) to get prior authorization for medical services. Specifically, insurers cannot demand prior approval unless they approved less than 90% of similar requests from that provider in the previous six-month period (either January-June or July-December). The bill requires insurers to notify providers within 25 days after each period, provide appeal options, and maintain an online portal showing all authorization decisions. It applies to most health plans but excludes Medicaid managed care organizations and providers who haven’t participated in a plan for a full six-month period. The law does not change what services are covered or allow providers to exceed their licensed scope.

Maddy summaryHB 3105, titled the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," protects Missouri residents' right to possess firearms by declaring federal gun regulations within the state invalid if they exceed constitutional limits. It grants the state attorney general or county prosecutors authority to sue federal officials for infringing on these rights and requires disciplinary action for law enforcement officers who knowingly violate them. The bill also affirms Missouri's exclusive authority to regulate firearms, including maintaining the existing federal excise tax on firearms, which it states does not restrict lawful ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 2740 creates a governance board at the University of Missouri to oversee and report on research using radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating rare pediatric diseases (affecting fewer than 200,000 children under 18 in the U.S.). The board, including university medical representatives, legislative appointees, a patient advocate, and an industry partner, must submit annual public reports to Missouri lawmakers by December 31 each year detailing completed research projects, outcomes, funding used, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the University of Missouri system, patient advocates, and the Missouri legislature through its reporting requirements. The board’s duties expire on June 30, 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 2925 modifies how areas outside a municipality can join a city's park system through a voter-approved property tax. It requires property owners outside a city to gather signatures from 5% of qualified voters in their area, get municipal approval, and then hold a public vote on a park tax rate matching city residents' rate. If approved, the area joins the park system with proportional representation on the park board based on population, and residents gain equal access to city park facilities. The bill directly affects property owners outside municipal boundaries seeking park services and the city park boards managing those systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes insurance coverage provisions for orthotic, prosthetic, and assistive devices for individuals enrolled in Missouri's MO HealthNet program, which provides health care to low-income residents. The legislation outlines specific payment rules and coverage limits for various health services, including hospital care, physician services, prescription drugs, and home health care, while explicitly excluding certain providers like abortion facilities from receiving funds. Key provisions include setting payment amounts at no more than 80% of reasonable costs for outpatient services, limiting chiropractic visits to 20 per year, and restricting nursing home coverage for those with significant home equity. The bill also defines eligibility criteria and payment methodologies for different types of care, ensuring services are medically necessary and aligned with federal regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 2178 changes how property taxes are calculated in Missouri. It sets new assessment rates: 19% for most residential property, 12% for certain commercial land, and 32% for others, while reducing rates for specific items like solar panels (5%) and historic vehicles (5%). The bill also adds rules for assessing property near airports (deducting costs paid by non-government parties for improvements) and requires counties to submit two-year assessment plans for approval. These changes directly affect all property owners, counties, and cities in Missouri, particularly those with airport-adjacent land or solar installations meeting the 2022 deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires regular inspections of fire safety dampers (devices that prevent fire/smoke spread through HVAC systems) in most non-residential Missouri buildings, excluding small homes. It mandates an initial inspection within 12 months of installation and subsequent checks every four years, following NFPA standards with physical visual inspections required (not remote methods). Inspectors must hold specific ICB certifications or equivalent, and building owners must maintain compliance records, issue deficiency reports for failures, and post public verification notices. These requirements apply to commercial buildings, schools, hospitals, and other multi-use structures governed by Missouri political subdivisions.