Rep. Carolyn Caton

Maddy summaryHB 3494 modifies election administration rules for specific large counties and cities by requiring certain jurisdictions to establish boards of election commissioners instead of having county clerks manage elections. It applies to counties with over 900,000 residents, cities not in counties, and counties containing cities over 300,000 residents, with a transition provision for counties changing classification after 1998. The bill changes the administrative structure for election management in these areas without altering voting policies or procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 3497, the "Death with Dignity Act," allows terminally ill adults (with a disease expected to cause death within six months) to legally request medication to end their lives. It requires two physicians to confirm the diagnosis and patient competence, mandates counseling to assess decision-making, and requires a written request witnessed by two non-relatives who aren't beneficiaries or facility staff. Patients must be fully informed about their diagnosis, prognosis, risks, and alternatives like hospice care before proceeding. The bill includes a 15-day waiting period and requires the patient to self-administer the medication, emphasizing informed, voluntary decisions without coercion.

Maddy summaryHB 2995 requires radon measurement, mitigation, and laboratory professionals and businesses to obtain state licenses starting January 1, 2027, for any paid services. It mandates certification through EPA-recognized programs, proof of insurance, and adherence to board-established standards, applying to all businesses or individuals offering radon testing, fixing, or analysis for compensation. Homeowners testing their own single-family homes or using state-provided test kits remain exempt, as do renters using kits purchased for personal use. The Board of Radon Safety will oversee licensing, enforce rules, and manage business entity licenses for radon service providers.

Maddy summaryHB 3096 establishes a rebuttable presumption that certain cancers and occupational diseases (including heart, respiratory, and specific cancers like lung or prostate cancer) contracted by firefighters and fire investigators are work-related, shifting the burden of proof to employers to disprove the connection. It also adds PTSD as a compensable occupational disease for first responders when diagnosed after experiencing specific qualifying traumatic events, such as witnessing severe injuries or deaths. The bill updates Missouri's workers' compensation framework to cover these conditions without requiring proof of direct causation, provided clear evidence links the condition to job-related exposures or events. This directly affects paid firefighters and fire investigators certified under state law who develop covered illnesses during their duties.

Maddy summaryHB 1753 requires Missouri driver's license applicants needing a road skills test to complete a free, 5-hour online road safety course before taking the test. The course covers distracted driving hazards, crash prevention, safe driving habits, and traffic stop procedures. Applicants must finish this course by January 1, 2028, when the Department of Public Safety must develop or accredit it, with fees up to $20 collected after completion to fund a dedicated Driver Safety Education Fund. This applies to standard license applicants but excludes commercial license seekers and waives the requirement for those with high school driver's education certification.

Maddy summaryThe bill title claims to address election worker compensation, but the provided text describes a complex modification to Missouri's income tax calculation rules, not a deduction for election workers. It specifies adjustments to federal adjusted gross income, including adding back certain federal tax refunds (excluding pandemic-related credits), interest on specific obligations, and excess business deductions. The bill also details subtracted items like interest from U.S. obligations and state tax refunds. This is a procedural tax code amendment, not a policy change for election workers, and the title appears to be incorrect based on the actual bill text.

Maddy summaryHJR 145 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain disabled veterans' property from Missouri state taxes. It would grant tax exemptions for homestead property and personal belongings (like household goods and vehicles) owned by Missouri residents who are certified as having a 100% service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The amendment would require the state to replace lost tax revenue through a countywide tax on specific commercial property, ensuring local governments retain funding. This change would apply to veterans meeting strict criteria, including honorable military service and Missouri residency. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read first time).

Maddy summaryHB 2607 modifies Missouri's property tax assessment rules by changing how real and personal property is valued and taxed. It sets specific assessment percentages: 19% for residential property (subclass 1), 12% for commercial property (subclass 2), and 32% for other real property (subclass 3), while lowering rates for certain items like solar equipment (5%) and historic vehicles (5%). The bill includes special rules for property near commercial airports, reducing assessments by costs paid by non-government parties for improvements after 2008, and requires counties to submit annual assessment maintenance plans for approval. These changes directly affect property owners, local assessors, and counties by altering tax calculations and administrative processes for property valuation.

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 1881 amends Missouri's controlled substances law by adding specific fentanyl analogs and synthetic opioids to Schedule I (not Schedule III, as the title states). The bill lists numerous fentanyl derivatives (e.g., acetyl fentanyl, xylazine is not listed) and opioid compounds under Schedule I, which requires they have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. This change directly affects law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals handling these substances by classifying them as illegal under Missouri law. The bill does not mention xylazine in its text; the title appears to contain an error, as the actual provisions focus on fentanyl-related compounds. This is a substantive policy change to drug scheduling, not a procedural measure.