Rep. Jeff Myers

Maddy summaryHB 1696 establishes a clear priority order for who can make burial or cremation decisions for a deceased person, directly affecting families, funeral homes, and military dependents. It prioritizes: (1) an attorney-in-fact named in a durable power of attorney for this purpose, (2) a military-designated person via DD-93 form, (3) a surviving spouse, (4) surviving children (with guardian roles clarified for minors), and (5) other relatives or friends who assume costs. The bill requires decision-makers to be 18+, mentally competent, and willing to cover costs, while protecting funeral homes that follow claims of "next-of-kin" without liability if they verify properly. It also sets a 48-hour objection window if someone with a higher priority is notified, preventing disputes over final arrangements.

Maddy summaryHB 1839 requires commercial websites distributing more than one-third "sexual material harmful to minors" (defined as content appealing to minors' sexual interests without serious artistic value) to implement age verification for users under 18. It mandates that businesses use reasonable age-verification methods (like government ID checks) and prohibits retaining personal user data during verification. Websites must display specific health warnings about pornography's effects and a national helpline notice in 14-point font. The law excludes bona fide news organizations and internet service providers from compliance, and the Missouri Attorney General can enforce it through lawsuits seeking damages or injunctions.

Maddy summaryHB 1654 declares Missouri law as supreme within the state and prohibits courts, agencies, or local governments from enforcing any foreign government, international body, or religious law if it conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, Missouri Constitution, or state public policy. It specifically bans coercion to impose foreign or religious law on individuals or groups within Missouri, making such actions subject to criminal penalties under Missouri law (e.g., chapters 565 and 574). The bill protects existing religious freedom rights under Missouri’s Constitution and the First Amendment, while clarifying it does not override federal obligations or treaties. It directly affects all residents, organizations, and entities operating in Missouri by establishing legal boundaries for law enforcement and religious practice. The attorney general may investigate and prosecute violations of the coercion prohibition.

Maddy summaryHB 1779, titled the "Defining SEX Act," defines key terms in state law to establish that "biological sex" (male or female) determines legal references to "sex" or "gender" in existing statutes and administrative rules. It specifies that "gender," when used alone, must refer to biological sex - not gender identity, expression, or role - and clarifies that "gender identity" cannot replace "sex" in legal contexts. The bill directly affects how state laws and regulations interpret terms in areas like healthcare, education, and employment, requiring state agencies to align their rules with these definitions. It also includes a specific provision ensuring individuals with differences in sex development retain ADA protections under federal law.

Maddy summaryHB 2565 requires schools and colleges to restrict athletic competition to students competing in the category matching their biological sex as recorded on their official birth certificate (or another government record if the birth certificate is unavailable). It directly affects K-12 and postsecondary students, schools, and athletic programs by prohibiting participation in sports designated for the opposite biological sex, except when no comparable competition exists for the student's sex. The bill includes penalties for non-compliance (loss of state aid) and allows affected students or parents to seek legal remedies. It expires on August 28, 2027, and defines "sex" based on reproductive biology and genome at birth.

Maddy summaryHB 2566 removes the expiration date (sunset provision) from Missouri's Line of Duty Compensation Act, making the death benefit permanent. The law provides $100,000 in compensation to survivors of public safety officers (including firefighters, law enforcement, EMTs, and air ambulance crew) who die "in the line of duty" due to work-related injuries, illness, or violence. Previously, this benefit would have expired after a set period without legislative renewal. The bill ensures survivors of qualifying officers will continue to receive this payment without needing future legislative action to extend it.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Child Protection Through Nonprofit Integrity Act," prohibits individuals required to register as sex offenders for crimes against minors from working with or volunteering for child-serving organizations (like schools, camps, youth programs, or childcare centers). It requires these organizations to annually certify, under penalty of perjury, that they have checked the Missouri sex offender registry for all staff and volunteers and confirm no disqualified individuals are involved. Organizations that fail to comply face denied registration, civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation, and a five-year loss of state funding eligibility. Violations by disqualified offenders carry felony penalties (class D for first offense, class C for repeat), while organization leaders knowingly allowing such individuals face felony charges and a 10-year ban from similar roles.

Maddy summaryHB 1947 creates the Missouri Gaming Bureau within the Department of Public Safety to handle criminal and regulatory investigations for the state's gaming and lottery industries. The bureau, led by a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer appointed by the patrol superintendent, will investigate violations at casinos (under sections 313.800-313.850) and video lottery operations. It grants bureau members full peace officer authority to enforce gaming rules and investigate violations on casino premises. The bureau will be funded using administrative revenues from the state lottery and gaming license fees, directly affecting casinos, video lottery operators, and the Missouri Gaming/Lottery Commissions.

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 1818 requires content creators (like influencers or vloggers) who feature minors in their compensated online content to set aside a portion of earnings into a trust fund for the minor. It applies when a minor appears in at least 30% of a creator's content over a month, the content meets view thresholds, and the creator earned $25,000+ in the prior year. Creators must maintain records of views, compensation, and minor features until the minor turns 21, and deposit at least half of the earnings from content featuring the minor into a separate trust account. The funds become accessible to the minor when they turn 18 or are emancipated, ensuring compensation from their online presence is preserved for their future.