Rep. Tricia Byrnes

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 3269 updates Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board to improve data collection and analysis of maternal deaths. The bill expands the board to 22 members with mandatory diversity requirements, including representation from each congressional district and across racial, ethnic, and rural/urban groups. It requires the board to review all maternal deaths (defined as deaths during pregnancy or within one year postpartum, regardless of cause), identify factors like racial disparities and "maternity care deserts" (counties lacking adequate maternity services), and collect specific data on prenatal/postnatal care. The board must produce annual reports with disaggregated data by race, ethnicity, and location, and share recommendations to reduce maternal mortality with policymakers and the public.

Maddy summaryHB 3281 requires all educational software used in Missouri public schools to meet specific accountability standards. It directly affects schools (as "contracting entities"), software vendors, and students by banning addictive design features like infinite scroll, gamified rewards, and persistent notifications. The bill mandates that vendors must sign a statewide digital privacy agreement prohibiting data misuse (including advertising, profiling, or resale), undergo independent effectiveness verification, and comply with strict data collection limits (e.g., no biometrics, emotion tracking, or AI influencing student beliefs). Schools cannot use noncompliant software for instruction, assessments, or school activities, and all software must align with educational purposes only, excluding marketing or commercial content.

Maddy summaryHB 2646 creates a Missouri tax credit for interest paid on new vehicle loans for qualifying cars, SUVs, trucks, or motorcycles assembled in Missouri and purchased after 2025. It directly affects Missouri residents who bought such new vehicles for personal use and paid loan interest, allowing them to claim a credit equal to the interest paid (up to $10,000 per year) against their state income tax. The credit phases out for taxpayers earning over $100,000 ($200,000 for joint filers) and excludes loans for commercial vehicles, leases, salvage-title vehicles, or loans to relatives. The credit expires after 2029 unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHJR 151 proposes a constitutional amendment to create new personal property tax exemptions in Missouri. It would exempt manufacturers' and retailers' inventories (like raw materials and goods for sale), household items in homes, and property used by veterans with service-connected disabilities or religious/charitable organizations. To offset lost tax revenue, counties would implement a replacement tax on other property (specifically subclass 3 of class 1 property) at a rate calculated to cover the shortfall. The amendment requires voter approval after legislative passage and would take effect in counties following their first general reassessment. This change would directly affect manufacturers, retailers, and homeowners with qualifying property, while shifting tax burden to other property owners in affected counties.

Maddy summaryHJR 150 proposes a constitutional amendment that would limit local governments' ability to increase property tax rates without voter approval. It prohibits counties or cities from raising existing property tax rates above current levels without voter consent, and requires automatic tax reductions if property value increases outpace inflation (to maintain the same revenue). The amendment also excludes taxes for bond payments or debt obligations from these limits. This directly affects local governments and property owners by changing how property tax rates can be adjusted based on property values and inflation.

Maddy summaryHB 2860 requires school boards to publicly disclose financial transactions over $500 involving board members, employees, or their close family members, excluding routine payments like taxes. It also mandates written disclosures from school superintendents and key staff about outside business interests, including employer names and ownership stakes. For special education disputes, the bill shifts the burden of proof to school districts in due process hearings under federal law and restricts hearing commissioners from having recent ties to school districts or special education advocacy. These provisions directly affect school boards, administrators, and parents of students with disabilities. The bill aims to increase transparency in school district finances and ensure impartiality in special education decision-making.

Maddy summaryHB 2652 regulates kratom sales by requiring businesses (like stores, restaurants, or manufacturers) to label products with exact mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine levels. It bans selling kratom mixed with dangerous substances, containing over 2% of a specific alkaloid (7-hydroxymitragynine), synthetic compounds, or lacking required labeling. The bill also prohibits sales to anyone under 21. Violations of labeling or safety rules can result in fines or misdemeanor charges, with private lawsuits allowed for financial harm caused by non-compliant products.

Maddy summaryHB 2650 gradually eliminates property taxes on tangible personal property (like business equipment and furniture) in cities or counties that vote to do so. If approved by voters, the tax rate on this property decreases each year for five years: starting at 26.6% in year one, dropping to 19.9%, then 13.2%, 6.5%, and finally 0% from year five onward. Cities or counties may also choose to replace lost revenue with a local sales tax, but only if voters approve both the elimination and the sales tax. This directly affects local governments and businesses that own taxable tangible personal property within participating jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryHB 2231 requires facilities advertising dual diagnosis treatment (addressing both substance use disorders and mental health conditions) to meet specific operational standards. It mandates medication management systems for tracking prescriptions, regular patient reviews, and education; requires integrated, evidence-based treatment plans tailored to individual patients; and prohibits misleading advertising claims about services or licensure. Facilities must clearly disclose their credentials in all marketing materials. The Department of Mental Health enforces these rules, with violations subject to penalties under existing licensing laws. This bill directly affects all treatment centers in the state that market themselves as providing dual diagnosis care.