Rep. Peter Merideth

Maddy summaryThis bill allows registered voters to use electronic signatures instead of handwritten ones when collecting signatures for ballot initiative and referendum petitions. It requires the Secretary of State to create a secure website where voters can submit their digital signatures, which must include personal details like name and address to verify identity. The law ensures that electronic signatures have the same legal weight as manual signatures, provided they meet specific security standards and are not duplicated or repudiated. Additionally, the Secretary of State must establish rules to maintain an audit trail of submissions to prevent fraud and ensure the integrity of the petition process.

Maddy summaryHB 2911 repeals existing prostitution laws in Missouri and replaces them with new statutes that decriminalize consensual adult prostitution while establishing a separate crime for commercial sexual exploitation. The bill defines specific terms such as "nudity," "seminudity," and "sexually oriented business" to regulate adult entertainment venues, prohibiting minors from entering these locations and banning employees from touching customers. Under the new provisions, appearing in a state of nudity or performing sexual acts within a sexually oriented business is no longer a crime, provided the participants are adults and the venue adheres to safety standards like keeping seminude employees on a stage away from patrons. However, the legislation maintains strict penalties for allowing minors on the premises, engaging in commercial sexual exploitation, or operating a business that facilitates such exploitation.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to protect an individual's right to make their own medical decisions, including reproductive choices like contraception, fertility treatment, pregnancy continuation, miscarriage care, and abortion. The amendment requires that these decisions be made freely, supported by a licensed physician, and consistent with evidence-based medical standards, while also allowing guardians to consent for minors unless doing so would endanger the patient's life or health. It prohibits the state from penalizing or discriminating against individuals or entities assisting in these medical choices, unless the government can prove it is using the least restrictive means to protect the patient's health according to medical standards. The text specifically defines abortion restrictions as permissible only after fetal viability, which is determined by a physician on a case-by-case basis, and includes an exception to protect the life or health of the pregnant person at any stage of pregnancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to strengthen gun rights in Missouri by protecting the right to own and carry firearms for self-defense and allowing individuals to have accessories that are typical to the normal function of their arms. It mandates that all firearm transfers must go through licensed dealers who conduct background checks, while also permitting local governments to pass their own gun regulations as long as they do not violate the Second Amendment. The amendment explicitly states that these rights are unalienable and require strict scrutiny if the state tries to restrict them, though it maintains exceptions for convicted violent felons and individuals deemed a danger due to mental health issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes adding a new section to the Missouri Constitution that would require property owners to use specific, more cost-effective materials when repairing or improving their real estate, provided the change does not alter the property's appearance and results in a better condition. It also gives local governments the authority to block any repairs or improvements if they reasonably believe the work will negatively impact the value or enjoyment of neighboring properties. Ultimately, the measure would establish new legal standards for how property owners must handle maintenance and upgrades while allowing municipalities to protect adjacent land values.

Maddy summaryHB 2230 creates a new legal process allowing law enforcement officers and agencies to petition courts for risk protection orders against individuals who pose a significant danger to themselves or others through firearm possession. The bill mandates that these petitions include sworn affidavits detailing specific threats or acts of violence, along with information about the respondent's firearms and any existing protection orders. Key provisions require courts to hold hearings within fourteen days, allow for temporary orders before the hearing, and prohibit attorneys from being required or awarded fees in these proceedings. Additionally, the legislation outlines various factors judges can consider, such as recent violent acts, mental health issues, and substance abuse, while also requiring law enforcement to notify family members and provide referrals to support resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents local governments in the state from raising taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products without first getting approval from a majority of voters in that specific area. It stops counties, cities, and towns from unilaterally increasing these taxes beyond the rate set on September 30, 1993, unless they hold a special vote where more than half of the eligible voters agree to the hike. The law also ensures that any future state laws attempting to override local tax decisions in this area are considered invalid.

Maddy summaryHB 2371 updates Missouri election laws to clarify who can vote, how to register, and the rules for absentee ballots. The bill sets the voting age at 17 years and six months, allowing eligible residents to register before their 18th birthday, while prohibiting voting for those adjudged incapacitated or currently serving prison sentences. It requires voters to present specific forms of identification, such as a birth certificate or driver's license, when registering and mandates that registration be completed by a set deadline before an election, with limited exceptions for military personnel and new residents. Additionally, the legislation expands the reasons a voter may request an absentee ballot to include employment as a first responder, health care worker, or law enforcement officer, and allows certain covered voters to use a federal postcard application to register and vote absentee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows metropolitan school districts in Missouri to vote on adding a small sales tax specifically to fund special educational services. If approved by voters, the tax would be capped at 0.25% and collected by the state, with the money placed in a separate trust fund for the district to use. The bill does not automatically impose the tax; instead, it provides the legal framework for school boards to ask voters for permission to levy the fee. Once approved, the state handles the collection and administration, while the district receives the funds monthly for designated educational purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows metropolitan school districts in Missouri to levy a property tax specifically to fund special educational services. The tax rate is capped at three cents per hundred dollars of assessed property value and can only be implemented if school boards first ask voters to approve it at a general election. If a majority of voters approve the measure, the collected money must be placed in a dedicated trust fund and used exclusively for special education programs within that district.