Rep. Dean VanSchoiack

Maddy summaryHB 3219 creates a new class E felony offense for operating a video lottery terminal, defined as any device that uses electronic, mechanical, or digital means to accept payment and generate prizes based on symbols. The law applies to anyone operating such a terminal without being the owner, renter, or lessor, except for licensed excursion gambling boats. This bill directly affects businesses or individuals running unlicensed video lottery terminals by imposing criminal penalties. The key mechanism establishes a specific felony classification for unauthorized operation, with the exception for existing licensed boat operations.

Maddy summaryHB 3057 is a procedural bill that updates Missouri's Revised Statutes by removing all references to specific House and Senate bill numbers (like "House Bill 1075") and replacing them with new statutory section numbers (such as 37.005, 50.333, and 631.020). It does not change government operations or create new policies; instead, it corrects outdated citations in the legal code to align with current statutory formatting. The bill directly affects how state laws are referenced in official documents and legal proceedings. This is a routine administrative update to maintain clarity in Missouri's legal system.

Maddy summaryHB 2416 modifies Missouri's property tax assessment rules, directly affecting property owners and county assessors statewide. It sets specific tax rates (e.g., 19% for residential property, 5% for solar equipment and historic vehicles) and requires assessors to annually value real property at 33.3% of its current market value, with new assessments applied every odd-numbered year. Key changes include deducting private construction costs from airport-adjacent property valuations and adding requirements for computer-assisted valuations, where assessors must prove accuracy using comparable sales data. The bill also establishes a two-year assessment maintenance plan process for counties seeking state tax funds.

Maddy summaryHB 2413 modifies regulations for assisted living facilities and residential care facilities. It allows facilities licensed as "Residential Care Facility II" as of 2006 to transition to "Assisted Living Facility" status without immediate compliance with new standards, but they must meet full requirements when Medicaid reimbursement for residents reaches $41 per day. The bill requires facilities to create individualized care plans, maintain 24-hour staffing, develop disaster evacuation plans, and prohibit admission of residents needing skilled nursing care, physical or chemical restraints, or who cannot safely evacuate without significant assistance. Facilities must also disclose services, costs, and discharge conditions to prospective residents and conduct medical screenings upon admission. These changes directly affect assisted living facilities and their residents, particularly those with disabilities requiring specialized care.

Maddy summaryHB 2439 renames Missouri's "State Tax Commission" to the "State Assessment Commission" and changes its composition. The commission will expand from three to seven members by January 1, 2027, with all members required to have real property appraisal or assessment experience (such as holding a current Missouri appraisal license). The bill also ensures the commission operates independently from the state department of revenue, with the director having no authority over its decisions. Additionally, it sets qualifications including residency requirements and limits the number of commissioners from any single political party to no more than four.

Maddy summaryHJR 141 proposes a constitutional amendment that would change how Missouri's state tax commission handles property tax appeals. If approved by voters in 2026, it would limit the commission's authority starting January 1, 2027: the commission could no longer increase property valuations in appeals, only uphold current values or lower them. The amendment also requires the commission to provide each county with detailed reports listing properties that are either undervalued or overvalued compared to their actual market value. This change would directly affect property owners, local governments, and the commission by altering the appeal process for property tax assessments.

Maddy summaryHB 2438 renames Missouri's "State Tax Commission" to the "State Assessment Commission" and changes its structure. The bill expands the commission from three to seven members starting January 1, 2027, requiring all commissioners to have real property appraisal experience (as former assessment officers, appraisers, or licensed appraisers). It modifies appointment rules, including staggered terms and a limit of four commissioners from the same political party. The change directly affects the commission's composition and operations, shifting focus from tax administration to property assessment oversight. The bill does not alter tax rates or policies, only the governing body's name and membership requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 2437 extends sovereign immunity to private contractors working under contract with Missouri’s Department of Transportation (MoDOT). It grants contractors the same legal protection from negligence lawsuits as government entities, covering work performed under MoDOT-approved plans and specifications. This immunity applies from the official start of a project until MoDOT formally accepts the completed work. The bill specifically affects contractors on state transportation projects, shielding them from liability claims related to their contracted work - though it remains subject to existing legal exceptions for dangerous conditions or vehicle operations.

Maddy summaryHB 1884 requires developers, owners, or operators of wind energy conversion systems (facilities with five or more 50-foot-tall turbines or taller) in Missouri to install FAA-approved light-mitigating technology systems to reduce aviation obstruction lighting impacts. New projects must comply after August 28, 2026, while existing systems must install by August 28, 2034, with both having 24 months after FAA approval to complete installation. Non-compliance incurs daily fines of $5,000 per turbine until installation is complete. The bill places all installation costs and compliance responsibilities on the wind energy facility operators.

Maddy summaryHB 1886 establishes the "Designated Health Care Decision-Maker Act," allowing Missouri adults to formally designate a specific person to make health care decisions for them if they become incapacitated (unable to make decisions due to physical or mental condition). This designated person, distinct from existing legal roles like guardians or durable power of attorney agents, must act in the patient's "best interests" by ensuring equal access to care without discrimination based on disability. The bill defines key terms like "incapacitated," "best interests" (including promoting the highest attainable health standard), and "health care" to guide decision-making in hospitals, nursing facilities, or other care settings. It does not replace existing advance directives but creates a new, standardized process for appointing a decision-maker.