Rep. Marlene Terry

Maddy summaryHB 1236 creates a state tax credit for Missouri taxpayers who drive for qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations without expecting payment. It allows eligible drivers to claim a credit equal to the IRS standard mileage rate for qualifying transportation (up to $3,000 annually, adjusted for inflation), covering miles driven to support these organizations. The credit cannot be refunded, transferred, or claimed if the taxpayer already deducted the miles federally or received reimbursement. The program is capped at $1 million total annual credits and expires on December 31, 2031, unless renewed by the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 1061 modifies Missouri's property tax credit program, reenacting the "Missouri Homestead Preservation Tax Credit Program" to expand eligibility. It allows residents over 65, disabled individuals (with medical proof), veterans with 100% service-connected disability, and surviving spouses of eligible residents to claim the credit. Key changes include updating age requirements, requiring disability documentation, and clarifying residency rules for surviving spouses. The bill adjusts income calculations to exclude certain benefits like Social Security and pensions for qualifying claimants.

Maddy summaryHB 383 reclassifies offenses related to interfering with child custody and parental kidnapping as more serious felonies. It increases penalties for taking or concealing a child from legal custody (now a class E felony, escalating to class D or B felony based on duration), and for parental kidnapping (class E felony, escalating to class D or B felony). The bill requires courts to order offenders to pay restitution to legal custodians for reasonable search or return expenses. This directly affects individuals who illegally remove, detain, or conceal children from custody and the legal custodians seeking recovery of related costs.

Maddy summaryHB 1237 requires all elementary schools and charter schools in the state to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce readable cursive documents by the end of fifth grade. Students must pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The bill mandates this curriculum requirement for all public elementary students and allows the education department to create implementing rules, subject to standard administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 384 revises Missouri's guardianship and conservatorship laws by replacing outdated sections with 10 new provisions. It creates three distinct guardianship classifications: General (for individuals needing standard support), Specialized (for those requiring specialized medical care), and Forensic (for individuals with criminal histories or supervision requirements). The bill establishes "least restrictive alternative" as a key principle, requiring courts to prioritize options that allow individuals to live with minimal restrictions based on their specific needs. This directly affects Missouri residents who may become disabled or incapacitated, as well as court-appointed guardians and conservators managing their affairs. The changes clarify definitions, duties, and court requirements for these legal arrangements.

Maddy summaryHB 387 requires the state Board of Education to address unaccredited school districts by either allowing the existing school board to continue under specific conditions or appointing a special administrative board. This special board, composed of seven members (including four district residents with specific expertise in education and finance, plus appointed professionals), takes over district operations until the district achieves provisional accreditation for two consecutive years. The board meets monthly, receives $500 per member monthly, and must develop a plan to return the district to accreditation, including annual progress reports to the legislature. The bill directly affects school districts classified as unaccredited, shifting governance to the appointed board until accreditation goals are met.

Maddy summaryHB 1234 creates an automated expungement process for certain criminal records in Missouri, directly affecting individuals with eligible convictions (such as misdemeanors or non-excluded felonies) who have met waiting periods and completed all obligations. The bill requires court records to be automatically closed without a court petition after 1 year (for minor offenses) or 3 years (for felonies), provided no new offenses occurred and restitution was paid. Prosecuting agencies can object within 60 days if records don’t meet eligibility, involve unpaid restitution, or have pending charges. The law excludes juvenile records, traffic violations, and cases with unresolved charges, while limiting lifetime expungements to two felonies or four misdemeanors. It takes effect for most cases starting August 28, 2028, with a transition period for records eligible by 2025.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment proposes a 50% reduction in property tax assessments for residential property owned by Missouri residents who are 65+ years old or permanently disabled under federal or state law, with income limits of $50,000 (single) or $75,000 (married filing jointly) for the prior tax year. It would apply to residential properties only, lowering the taxable value used to calculate property taxes. The change would take effect January 1, 2027, pending voter approval in a 2026 election. The amendment would amend Missouri's Constitution to establish this tax relief as a permanent provision for qualifying homeowners.

Maddy summaryHB 382 establishes a study commission to examine challenges faced by grandparents raising grandchildren in Missouri. The commission, composed of 20+ diverse members including grandparents, state agency directors, and community representatives, will research issues like healthcare, education, and financial support. It must submit a final report with recommendations to the state legislature by January 15, 2026, but does not create new laws or directly change policies. This is a procedural bill focused solely on gathering data, not implementing solutions.

Maddy summaryHB 386 requires utilities to reimburse customers for actual losses like spoiled food during power outages lasting four or more hours (or causing less than 50% voltage), and for damaged goods during power surges affecting over 0.8% of customers. Local governments can also get reimbursed for emergency costs from such outages. Utilities may avoid liability if outages result from weather, customer tampering, or third-party damage, but must seek commission approval for waivers. The bill prohibits passing these costs to ratepayers and limits compensation to actual damages (excluding consequential losses).