Rep. Holly Jones

Maddy summaryHB 1840 creates Missouri's "Purple Alert System" to help locate missing persons with developmental disabilities who face immediate danger. It directly affects individuals with intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, or other non-Alzheimer's cognitive conditions who go missing. The bill requires law enforcement to immediately notify officers, contact local media, and share details with neighboring agencies when such a case is reported. It also mandates training for officers on crisis intervention and policies to enhance emergency response and public awareness about developmental disability-related elopement risks. The system must be implemented by July 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 2292 expands mandatory abuse and neglect reporting requirements to include suspected companion animal abuse. It directly affects professionals who already report adult or child abuse, such as healthcare workers, social workers, animal control officers, and long-term care staff. The bill requires these individuals to complete 1.5 hours of training within 60 days of hire, covering how to identify animal abuse, report it, and understand its connection to adult abuse cases. This training must be provided during work hours and includes specific guidance on reporting under sections 273.410 and 273.415.

Maddy summaryHB 3474 modifies a fire protection district's authority to charge service fees for emergency responses. It allows districts to charge businesses or individuals residing outside the district (but receiving services within district boundaries) for fire or emergency responses, with specific limits: $100 per fire call or alarm, and $250 per hour (or proportional for quarters) for response time. Residents within the district and businesses with physical addresses inside the district are exempt from these fees. The bill sets clear, capped cost recovery rules for districts to cover actual response expenses.

Maddy summaryHJR 199 proposes amending Missouri's constitution to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges from 70 to 75 years. The bill directly affects all Missouri judges, including circuit judges and supreme court justices, by changing the age at which they must retire unless they qualify for earlier retirement under existing law. Key provisions include allowing judges to retire earlier under current retirement plans and permitting retired judges to serve as senior judges with full judicial authority when assigned by the Supreme Court. This is a procedural constitutional amendment requiring voter approval, not a direct policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 2887, the "Missouri Healthy Schools Act," prohibits public schools participating in federally funded meal programs from serving, selling, or allowing third parties to sell ultraprocessed foods during the school day starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It defines "ultraprocessed food" as items containing specific additives like certain dyes (e.g., Yellow 5, Red 40) or chemicals (e.g., potassium bromate). Schools must certify compliance using a state-provided form, and the state education department will publish a list of compliant schools online. The law does not restrict parents from providing such foods to their children. This directly affects Missouri public schools in federally assisted meal programs.

Maddy summaryHB 3063 updates Missouri's laws on sexual offenses by clarifying definitions and expanding protections for minors. It specifically defines "child sexual abuse material" to include digital images that appear to show minors engaging in sexual conduct (even if created with adults), anatomically correct dolls used for sexual purposes, and material featuring identifiable minors. The bill directly affects venues like cabarets, bars, and restaurants that regularly feature semi-nude performances, and anyone distributing or promoting explicit material. Key provisions include new standards for determining what constitutes "obscene" or "pornographic for minors" material, and clearer rules for businesses operating "sexually oriented establishments." These changes aim to strengthen legal tools for prosecuting offenses involving minors.

Maddy summaryHB 2293 would allow hydroxychloroquine tablets to be sold over-the-counter without a prescription or pharmacist consultation in this state. The bill specifically targets hydroxychloroquine availability, removing current prescription requirements for this medication. It declares the provision an emergency act to take immediate effect upon passage, though it does not address ivermectin's OTC status as stated. This bill directly affects residents seeking hydroxychloroquine for personal use without healthcare provider involvement. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read twice in the House).

Maddy summaryHB 2354 modifies protective custody procedures for children in suspected abuse or neglect cases. It allows police, law enforcement, or physicians to take children into temporary custody (up to 24 hours) when immediate danger exists, requiring prompt notification to juvenile officers. The bill also establishes a SAFE-CARE network that mandates referrals to specialists for medical conditions mimicking abuse (like rickets, osteogenesis imperfecta, or vitamin D deficiency) during investigations. Parents or guardians can request alternative medical opinions, and the division must provide access to medical records to support these requests.

Maddy summaryHB 2374 prohibits health care providers from denying any health care service to a minor child based on the child's vaccination status. It also bans physicians or medical practices from terminating a minor patient's care solely because a parent or guardian refuses to consent to vaccinations for the child. The bill directly affects minors, their parents/guardians, and health care providers by requiring equal access to services regardless of vaccination choices. Key provisions explicitly forbid both denial of care and dismissal of minor patients due to vaccination-related decisions. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading).

Maddy summaryHB 2309, titled the "End Organ Harvesting Act of 2026," prohibits Missouri health insurance plans and Medicaid programs (including MO HealthNet and Medicaid managed care) from covering organ transplants or post-transplant care under two specific conditions: if the transplant occurs in China, or if the organ was obtained through sale or donation originating in China. The bill directly affects health insurers, patients seeking transplants involving China, and healthcare providers billing these insurers. Key provisions require health carriers to deny coverage for transplants meeting either of these China-related criteria. This is a policy change restricting insurance coverage for specific transplant scenarios, not a procedural measure.