Rep. Mark Sharp

Maddy summaryHB 1556 establishes Missouri's "MEF-CAP" program to provide state financial assistance for large-scale entertainment facilities like professional sports stadiums. It targets projects with at least $250 million in costs, 20,000+ seating capacity, and 33% private funding, requiring economic impact studies and a 25-year lease commitment from professional sports franchises (e.g., NFL, NBA teams). Assistance includes up to 50% of incremental state tax revenue, 50% withholding tax retention, or 25% matching grants, all subject to repayment if teams relocate or requirements aren't met. The program is administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development with oversight from the Missouri Development Finance Board.

Maddy summaryHB 648 reduces sales tax on diapers and feminine hygiene products by setting their tax rate equal to the rate applied to food. This affects consumers who purchase these items, including parents buying diapers for infants or toddlers, and individuals using feminine hygiene products. The bill achieves this by amending tax law to define these products as taxable at the food rate, using existing definitions for "food" and clarifying the scope of "diapers" and "feminine hygiene products." The change directly lowers costs for buyers of these essential items without altering tax rates for other goods.

Maddy summaryHB 243 ensures that pregnancy cannot delay or prevent a court from granting a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation. It explicitly states that a court must proceed with the judgment regardless of whether one party is pregnant, removing pregnancy as a barrier to these proceedings. The bill affects individuals seeking divorce or legal separation who are pregnant, requiring courts to follow standard residency and procedural requirements without considering pregnancy status. This change applies to all divorce or separation cases, maintaining existing rules about residency, custody, and property division while clarifying that pregnancy alone does not block finalization.

Maddy summaryHB 236 requires commercial websites where 33% or more of content is deemed "material harmful to minors" to use reasonable age-verification methods before allowing minors access. If a website fails this, it can be sued by a minor who accessed such content, facing damages and legal fees. The law explicitly excludes news organizations and internet service providers from liability, stating they aren't responsible for content they transmit but don't create. It defines "material harmful to minors" as content appealing to prurient interests, depicting sexual acts or nudity, or lacking artistic/scientific value for minors.

Maddy summaryHB 1298 modifies mandatory abuse and neglect reporting laws to require certain professionals to report companion animal abuse. It directly affects healthcare workers (like nurses, physicians, and veterinarians), social workers, animal control officers, and other professionals who already report human abuse, adding specific requirements for animal-related cases. Key provisions mandate these professionals complete one hour of training within 60 days of employment, covering how to identify animal abuse, how to report it, and the connection between animal abuse and elder or adult abuse. The bill expands existing reporting obligations to include companion animals while maintaining penalties for failure to report under current statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 284, the Missouri CROWN Act, prohibits educational institutions receiving state financial aid or serving students with state financial aid from discriminating against students based on hair texture or protective hairstyles (like braids, locks, twists, or afros) that are commonly associated with race. It defines "protective hairstyles" as those designed to protect natural hair and explicitly bans discrimination based on these styles in school programs. Exceptions allow schools to require hair nets or secured hair for safety in career/technical classes and permit religious institutions to exempt themselves if the rule conflicts with their tenets. The bill directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and student programs receiving state or federal education funding.

Maddy summaryHB 984 prevents the Department of Health and Senior Services from refusing trauma center designation to hospitals solely based on their distance from other trauma centers. It directly affects hospitals seeking or maintaining Level I, II, or III trauma center status, ensuring geographic proximity isn't a barrier to approval. The bill requires the department to base designations on meeting clinical standards (like those from the American College of Surgeons) rather than location, while maintaining other requirements like site reviews or national verification. Hospitals must still meet evidence-based clinical criteria, but distance alone can no longer be used to deny their designation.

Maddy summaryHB 650 designates February 20th each year as "John Donaldson Day" in Missouri to honor John Donaldson, a Negro Leagues pitcher and founding Kansas City Monarchs member. The bill encourages Missouri residents to participate in events commemorating his life and achievements. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding policy effects or direct regulatory impact - it serves solely to recognize historical contributions through annual observance.

Maddy summaryHB 728 modifies how incarcerated individuals can earn sentence reduction ("good time credit") by requiring the Department of Corrections to create a policy rewarding participation in rehabilitation programs. Eligible offenders may earn up to 360 days of credit (max 90 days yearly) for completing programs like high school diplomas, vocational training, drug treatment, or restorative justice work. Credit is lost for major misconduct, parole violations, or exceeding six minor infractions annually. The policy applies retroactively to offenses after 2009 and excludes death penalty or life without parole sentences.

Maddy summaryHB 954 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are National Guard members from other states when called to active state duty by their respective governors. It ensures these individuals receive the same reemployment rights, protection from discrimination, and civil relief under SCRA (50 U.S.C. § 3901 et seq.) as active-duty military. Employers must post a notice about these rights, and the attorney general can enforce them or pursue legal action if violated. The bill directly affects Guard members and their employers by codifying existing federal SCRA benefits for state duty scenarios.