MO — 2026 Regular Session | Bill Commons

3,175 bills

HB 3115 — Modifies provisions governing homestead property tax creditsdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-09: Public Hearing Scheduled, Bill not Heard (H)
SB 1493 — SB 1493 - This act authorizes any county to impose a sales tax for the purpose of funding senior services. Such sales tax shall not exceed 0.25%. Any county imposing a sales tax pursuant to this act shall establish a senior services tax commission to administer the sales tax revenue. The commission shall consist of seven member to be appointed by the county commission, and the county commission shall determine the qualifications, terms of office, compensation, powers, duties, restrictions, procedures, and all other functions of the commission. JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Economic and Workforce Development Committee
SB 1479 — SB 1479 - Currently, a state agency may incorporate by reference certain federal or nationally or state-recognized rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines in rules promulgated by the state agency. This act provides that Medicaid regulations promulgated by a state agency may incorporate by reference Medicaid fee schedules, later additions to Medicaid reimbursement methodologies, and later additions to federal rules and regulations needed to administer the Missouri Medicaid program. JIM ERTLEdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SB 1561 — SB 1561 - This act prohibits the possession or manufacturing of rapid fire devices for firearms, which shall include any accessory attached to a semiautomatic firearm that increases the rate of fire of that firearm. Such violation shall be a class D felony. This act is identical to SB 421 (2025), similar to HB 2316 (2026), HB 2683 (2026), and to provisions in HB 690 (2025) and HB 697 (2025), and substantially similar to provisions in SB 1101 (2018). TRISTAN BENSON, JRdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
SB 1592 — SB 1592 - This act authorizes a taxpayer to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to seventy percent of contributions made to prevention resource centers, but not to exceed $100,000 per taxpayer per tax year. Prevention resource centers are defined as not-for-profit entities with a mission to reduce the illegal or age-inappropriate use or misuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable or transferrable, but may be carried forward for one tax year. The total amount of tax credits authorized by the act shall not exceed $2.5 million in any fiscal year. The Director of the Department of Mental Health shall determine, at least annually, which facilities in this state may be classified as prevention resource centers and shall establish a procedure by which a taxpayer can determine if a facility has been classified as a prevention resource center. This act is identical to SB 1591 (2026). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Economic and Workforce Development Committee
SB 1550 — SB 1550 - The act provides that prior to the Public Service Commission allocating to each public utility the Commission's estimated expenses incurred for the regulation of public utilities, each public utility shall file with the Commission a statement satisfied by a declaration that the statement is made under penalty of perjury showing the utility's gross intrastate operating revenues for the preceding calendar year. The act further provides that the Commission shall require every person and corporation under the Commission's supervision to file with the Commission an annual report, as described in current law, satisfied by a declaration that the report is made under penalty of perjury. The act is substantially similar to HB 2424 (2026). JULIA SHEVELEVAdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy & the Environment Committee
SB 1469 — SB 1469 - This act requires that the fee for the professional component of clinical pathology services shall be paid by MO HealthNet for professional services provided by a hospital-based pathologist for inpatient clinical pathology services rendered to MO HealthNet patients. The reimbursement shall be set at thirty percent of the approved outpatient simplified fee schedule based on Medicare's clinical laboratory fee schedule, as described in the act. This act is identical to provisions in HB 1599 (2025), HCS/SB 94 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 943 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/HCS/HB 2372 (2026) and SS/SCS/SB 841 (2026). SARAH HASKINSdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SB 1508 — SB 1508 - Currently, during the time that the General Assembly is in session, there is an automatic stay of any administrative or court proceeding where a member of the General Assembly is a necessary witness. This act provides that the automatic stay shall apply instead when the member is subpoenaed as a witness. In addition to those exceptions provided by current law, stays for members of the General Assembly shall not apply to proceedings in which a member has been subpoenaed as a witness where the court or tribunal quashes the subpoena for good cause shown by any party to the proceeding nor shall it apply to proceedings in which a member has been ordered to serve as a juror but the order requiring the member to serve as a juror is set aside. Current law provides that it is a sufficient cause for a continuance of any civil or criminal cases or administrative proceeding if it shall appear to the court that any party, attorney, solicitor, or counsel is a member of the General Assembly and in actual attendance of an out-of-session hearing, special session, or veto session and that the attendance of such person is necessary to a fair and proper trial or other proceeding in such suit. This act modifies this provision and provides that it shall be a sufficient cause for such continuance if any individual subpoenaed as a witness, any individual ordered to serve as a juror, any party applying for a continuance, or any attorney, solicitor, or counsel of such party is a member of the General Assembly and in or scheduled to be in actual attendance of an out-of-session hearing, special session, or veto session. This act is identical to SB 380 (2025), SB 1198 (2024), SB 320 (2023), and SB 1198 (2022) and is similar to SB 269 (2021). KATIE O'BRIENdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
HB 1965 — Modifies provisions relating to athletic trainersdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Public Hearing Completed (H)
SB 1570 — SB 1570 - Under current law, a birth certificate may be amended by a court order to reflect a surgical sex change. This act repeals that provision of law. Under this act, the State Registrar shall amend the birth certificate of a person born in this state to indicate a male, female, or X sex designation upon receipt of a statement signed by the person attesting to a gender identity other than that which is recorded on the birth certificate. SARAH HASKINSdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Emerging Issues and Professional Registration Committee
SB 1600 — SB 1600 - Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, this act requires school districts to conduct universal screenings of all students at least once before 3rd grade for the purpose of identifying gifted students. These screenings shall use valid, reliable, and current testing methods; provide a body of evidence from at least two distinct areas such as general mental ability, academic achievement, creativity, reasoning, problem solving, or various forms of referral; and be reviewed by personnel trained in gifted education or assessment. A child's failure to satisfy the gifted criteria of a single assessment shall not preclude further evaluation or consideration. Additionally, beginning in the 2026-27 school year, each school district shall adopt a board-approved policy that establishes procedures for universal screening of students for gifted program selection and that notifies parents of the screening process annually. A school district's criteria for identifying gifted students shall be guided by recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children established in current law. This act is identical to SB 1628 (2026) and HCS/HB 1757 (2026), and is similar to HB 2704 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNONdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Education Committee
SB 1504 — SB 1504 - This act sets the minimum allowable reimbursement rate to an out-of-network ambulance provider for services provided to enrollees and limits co-payment, coinsurance, deductibles, and other cost sharing amounts to the in-network payment amount for covered services. Ambulance providers are prohibited from billing enrollees any additional amounts for paid covered services. Health carriers are required to remit payment for ambulance services directly to the ambulance provider rather than the enrollee within thirty days of receipt of a clean claim, as such term is defined in the act. Upon receipt of a claim that is not clean, health carriers are required to specify the reason for declining payment in whole or in part and the additional information necessary to determine if the claim is payable in whole or part. This act is identical to HB 2597 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETONdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Insurance and Banking Committee
SB 1447 — SB 1447 - This act creates the "Patients First Act", which directs the Department of Commerce and Insurance to implement and enforce certain provisions of the federal Public Health Service Act. Insurers shall not discriminate with respect to participation under the plan or coverage against any health care provider who is acting within the scope of that provider's license or certification under state law. Health benefit plans shall not discriminate against health care providers based on the providers' licensure with respect to reimbursement or participation in any plan or insurance program. All health care providers shall be reimbursed at the same rate for the same service as long as the service is within the provider's scope of practice. The act shall not be construed as preventing a group health plan or a health insurance issuer from establishing varying reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures. Nothing in this act shall apply to licensed physicians. This act is identical to HB 1894 (2026), substantially similar to SB 499 (2025), and similar to HCS/HB 530 (2025), HB 309 (2025), HB 2733 (2024), SB 558 (2023), and HB 935 (2023). TAYLOR MIDDLETONdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Insurance and Banking Committee
SB 1571 — SB 1571 - Under this act, the MO Healthnet program and health benefit plans shall include coverage for orthotic, prosthetic, and assistive devices, supplies, and services furnished under an order by a prescribing physician or licensed health care provider, including those customized to the enrollee's daily living needs and essential job-related activities, including wheelchairs. This coverage shall include repair and replacement, which may be subject to prior authorization, and any denial of coverage shall contain specified language regarding enrollee rights, as described in the act. MO Healthnet managed care plans and health benefit plans shall ensure access to medically necessary clinical care and to prosthetic, custom orthotic, and assistive devices and technology from at least two providers in the plan's provider network in this state or refer the participant to an out-of-network provider and fully reimburse the out-of-network provider at a mutually agreed-upon rate less participant cost sharing determined on an in-network basis. A health benefit plan may limit the benefits for, or alter the financial requirements for, out-of-network coverage of orthotic, prosthetic, and assistive devices, but the restrictions and requirements shall not be more restrictive than the out-of-network financial requirements that apply to other out-of-network coverage for basic health care services provided under the health benefit plan. Coverage shall not be subject to any limitations for preexisting conditions. Before October 1, 2027, each health carrier that issues a health benefit plan providing coverage required under this act shall report to the Director of the Department of Commerce and Insurance certain claims data regarding coverage under this act. The Director shall aggregate the data and submit a report to the General Assembly before December 1, 2027. The provisions of this act shall apply to a Medicare supplement policy. This act is substantially similar to HB 2034 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETONdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SB 1540 — SB 1540 - This act modifies provisions relating to certain convention and visitors commissions. REGIONAL CONVENTION AND VISITORS COMMISSION Current law authorizes the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County to establish a Regional Convention and Visitors Commission, to consist of eleven members to be appointed by the chief executives of the city and county. This act changes the composition of the Commission to fifteen members, with five to be appointed by the Governor, five to be appointed by the chief executive of the city, and five to be appointed by the chief executive of the county, as described in the act. (Section 67.601) Current law empowers the Commission to lease and sublease an existing convention center for a period not to exceed forty years. This act repeals such forty year limit. The act also give additional powers to the Commission, including 1) to exercise all powers, duties, rights, authorities, and obligations of the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, 2) to develop, devise, promote, fund, or contribute to the support and development of sports and entertainment attractions, 3) to levy and collect special assessments and taxes, and 4) to levy sales taxes as provided in the act. (Section 67.607) The act authorizes the Commission to levy one or more special assessments against real property withing the boundaries of the convention district, as defined in the act, upon receipt of a petition signed by owners of real property collectively owning more than fifty percent of the assessed value within the district and more than fifty percent per capita of the owners of all real property within the district. The method of allocating special assessments shall be specified in the petition, and the Commission may establish different classes of property within the district for the purpose of special assessments. A special assessment shall constitute a perpetual lien against the property, and the county collector may add the special assessment to the real property tax bill for the property. Any delinquent payment of a special assessment may be collected as provided for delinquent property tax payments, including the sale of delinquent property to satisfy the lien. The Commission may additionally impose a sales tax on all sales made within the district, provided the rate shall not exceed 2%. The Commission shall submit such sales tax to the qualified voters of the district by mail-in ballot. (Section 67.618) ST. LOUIS REGIONAL CONVENTION AND SPORTS COMPLEX AUTHORITY Current law authorizes the establishment of the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, which shall consist of eleven members. Beginning August 28, 2026, this act provides that the existing terms of such commissioners shall terminate, and that the members of the Regional Convention and Visitors Commission shall become the new commissioners of the Authority. (Section 67.652) Current law empowers the Authority to construct multi-purpose stadiums, provided that any such stadium is designed and constructed to meet National Football League franchise standards and be located adjacent to an existing convention facility. This act repeals such design requirement. (Section 67.653) Current law requires all funds deposited in the County Convention and Recreation Trust Fund to be disbursed for the payment of the county's share of any rent, fees, or charges payable pursuant to any contract entered into pursuant to current law. This act provides that any remaining moneys shall be annually disbursed to the Regional Convention and Visitors Commission for the Commission's general revenue purposes. (Section 67.657) LAND CLEARANCE FOR REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Current law authorizes the state to expend funds for the purpose of aiding and cooperating in the planning, undertaking, or carrying out of a land clearance project or projects. This act extends such authority to expending funds for such projects located within any area, property, or facility owned, managed, leased, maintained, or operated by the Regional Convention and Visitors Commission. Current law limits any state appropriation for such projects to a period of twenty years. This act provides that any agreement entered into between August 28, 2021, and August 28, 2028, shall not exceed thirty years, and provides that any appropriation for a Regional Convention and Visitors Commission project shall not exceed $4 million per fiscal year, and no such appropriation shall be made prior to July 1, 2027, for any tourism infrastructure facilities, as defined in the act, located in any convention district. This act is identical to SB 1538 (2026) and is substantially similar to HB 2934 (2026). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Economic and Workforce Development Committee
SJR 98 — SJR 98 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, prohibits counties and political subdivisions from levying or collecting a tax on real property beginning January 1, 2027. In lieu of such property tax, the amendment requires a county to impose a sales tax on the sale of real property at a rate equal to the total combined rate of state and local sales taxes in effect at the location of the property, provided that all revenues generated by the tax are collected and distributed by the county in the same manner as the property tax levied prior to January 1, 2027. A taxpayer shall select whether to remit the tax due upon the transfer of the title of the property, or to remit ten percent of the sales tax due to the county collector upon the transfer of title of the property, and the remainder within five, ten, or fifteen years in equal annual installments. Financial institutions that are mortgage servicers shall pay sales tax obligations which they service from escrow accounts in one payment by the required due date. This amendment also requires a taxpayer who purchases his or her real property prior to January 1, 2027, to remit a tax equal to the total combined rate of state and local sales taxes in effect at the location of the property multiplied by the remaining mortgage balance on such property, provided that all revenues generated by the tax are collected and distributed by the county in the same manner as the property tax levied prior to January 1, 2027. A taxpayer shall select whether to remit the tax due by December 31, 2027, 2032, 2037, or 2042, with such payment made in equal annual installments. Financial institutions that are mortgage servicers shall pay sales tax obligations which they service from escrow accounts in one payment by the required due date. (Section 4(e)) This amendment also modifies a constitutional provision prohibiting sales taxes on transactions that were not subject to tax as of January 1, 2015, by providing an exemption for the sales tax imposed pursuant to the amendment. (Section 26) This amendment is identical to SJR 7 (2025), SJR 82 (2024), SJR 18 (2023), and SJR 59 (2022). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Select Committee on Property Taxes and the State Tax Commission Committee
SB 1574 — SB 1574 - Current law authorizes certain counties to impose a sales tax not to exceed 0.2% for the funding of museums. This act adds Henry County to the list of counties authorized to impose such sales tax. This act is identical to HB 3335 (2026) and to a provision in HCS/HB 2431 (2026), and is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1790 (2026). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee
SJR 108 — SJR 108 - If approved by the voters, this constitutional amendment requires the Department of Social Services and the MO HealthNet Division to implement work requirements for certain individuals as a condition of participation in the MO HealthNet program. These individuals shall demonstrate compliance with work requirements for 3 consecutive months immediately preceding the month during which they apply and the Department and Division shall disenroll any individual who fails to comply with work requirements. The Department shall submit any necessary state plan amendments to implement this amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no later than March 1, 2027. This constitutional amendment is similar to SJR 103 (2026), SCS/HCS/HJR 154 (2026), SCS/SJR 43 (2025), SJR 76 (2024), provisions of SJR 4 (2023) and HCS/HJR 117 (2022), SJR 60 (2020), and SJR 32 (2020). SARAH HASKINSdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SJR 107 — SJR 107 - This constitutional amendment, if adopted by the voters, will repeal Article I, Section 36, the "Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative". This constitutional amendment is identical to SJR 55 (2025). SARAH HASKINSdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SB 1482 — SB 1482 - This act modifies provisions relating to abuse and neglect of adult day care program participants, including modifying the definition of "abuse" to include financial exploitation, creating a definition of "neglect", requiring mandated reporting of abuse or neglect with criminal penalties for failure to report, establishing procedures for investigating reports of abuse or neglect, and establishing procedures for reporting misappropriated property or funds of adult day care program participants. This act also modifies provisions relating to abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled persons by adding financial exploitation to the definition of "abuse"; adding persons to the list of mandated reporters in current law for in-home services clients, long-term care facilities, and personal care assistance services; requiring certain investigative reports to be confidential; and permitting hearings for persons placed on employee disqualification lists to take place by telephone or electronic means. This act establishes procedures for reporting misappropriation of property or funds for patients of certain medical facilities and entities, including hospitals and home health agencies. Finally, this act makes several technical changes to the current elderly and disabled persons abuse and neglect statutes. SARAH HASKINSdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Families, Seniors and Health Committee
SB 1461 — SB 1461 - For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, this act authorizes a tax credit in the amount of fifty percent of an eligible taxpayer's qualified railroad expenditures and qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. "Qualified railroad expenditures" are defined as gross expenditures for maintenance, reconstruction, or replacement of railroad infrastructure, as described in the act. "Qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures" are defined as gross expenditures for new rail infrastructure, as described in the act. A tax credit for qualified railroad expenditures shall not exceed $5,000 multiplied by the number of miles of railroad track owned or leased in the state by a railroad, and the total amount of tax credits for qualified railroad expenditures authorized in a calendar year shall not exceed $4.5 million. A tax credit for qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures shall not exceed $1 million for each new rail-served customer project, and the total amount of tax credits for qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures authorized in a calendar year shall not exceed $5 million. An eligible taxpayer shall submit a certificate of eligibility to the Department of Economic Development after the completion of the qualified railroad expenditures or qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures. Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable, but may be carried forward for five subsequent tax years. Tax credits may be transferred as described in the act. This act shall sunset on December 31, 2032, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. (Section 135.1210) This provision is identical to SCS/SB 462 (2025), HB 2716 (2026), and HB 2941 (2026), and to a provision in SB 913 (2026), SCS/SB 864 (2026), and HCS/HB 2713 (2026), and is substantially similar to HCS/HB 669 (2025), SS/SCS/SB 876 (2024), HB 1824 (2024), SB 385 (2023), and HCS/HB 657 (2023), and to a provision in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 466 (2025), HCS/HB 1935 (2024), and HCS/HB 939 (2023). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Economic and Workforce Development Committee
SB 1456 — SB 1456 - This act creates the Civil Liberties Defense Act, which mandates that any court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency ruling shall be unenforceable if based on a foreign law which is repugnant or inconsistent with the Constitutions of Missouri and of the United States. The act makes contract provisions that choose to apply a foreign law to contractual disputes or to have disputes settled in another country void and unenforceable in Missouri, if the foreign law is repugnant to or inconsistent with the Constitutions of Missouri and of the United States. In some cases, a court may refuse to take jurisdiction over matters where the court believes there is a more appropriate forum for the dispute. This act requires that the court hear the case in Missouri if a state resident brings the case and if the court finds that not hearing the case in Missouri violates or would likely violate the rights of the person who brought the case. The act does not apply to a business entity that subjects itself to a foreign law in a jurisdiction outside the United States. The act does not authorize courts to adjudicate religious matters. This act is substantially similar to HB 2507 (2016), SCS/SB 619 (2014), and the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SB 267 (2013) and is similar to HB 757 (2013), SB 676 (2012), and SB 308 (2011). KATIE O'BRIENdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Government Efficiency Committee
SB 1537 — SB 1537 - This act authorizes a tax credit for one hundred percent of the costs incurred by a taxpayer for enrolling the taxpayer's qualified youth in a qualified firearm safety course, as such terms are defined in the act. No tax credit shall exceed $100 per eligible youth per tax year. Tax credits authorized by the act shall be refundable, and shall not be transferred, sold, or assigned. A taxpayer shall submit documentation to the Department of Public Safety verifying completion of a course, as well as all incurred costs. The Department shall maintain a list of qualifying courses on its website. This act shall sunset on December 31, 2032, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. This act is identical to SB 1434 (2026). JOSH NORBERGdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
HB 3155 — Modifies provisions relating to criminal offenses, including minimum prison terms and conditional releasedied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 0
SB 1496 — SB 1496 - This act creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. This act is similar to HB 2866 (2026). MISSOURI EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS PROGRAM (Sections 135.712, 135.713, 135.715, 135.716, 160.410, 160.415, 166.700, and 166.720) The act authorizes the General Assembly to fund student scholarships through the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by appropriating funds to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts fund. Such scholarships shall be awarded in an order and in amounts established in current law and shall be governed through parent agreements with educational assistance organizations as provided in current law. No provision of law relating to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program shall be construed to limit the appropriation authority of the General Assembly. (Sections 135.712 and 135.716) The cumulative amount of tax credits that may be allocated in any one calendar year is doubled, increasing from $75 million to $150 million. (Section 135.713) There shall be a maximum of 15 educational assistance organizations, rather than 10, in any school year. No more than 11 of such organizations, rather than 7, shall have their principal place of business in Greene County, Jackson County, St. Charles County, St. Louis County, or the City of St. Louis. (Section 135.715) Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415) The definition of "qualified student" is modified by repealing provisions requiring students to have an individualized education plan developed under federal law or to be a member of a household with a total annual income that does not exceed 300% of the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced price lunches. (Section 166.700) The act repeals a provision allowing school districts and charter schools to continue including students in the calculation of the district's or school's weighted average daily attendance for up to five years after the student receives an empowerment scholarship and leaves the school district or charter school. (Section 166.720) CHARTER SCHOOLS (Sections 160.400, 160.405, 160.410, and 160.415) Under this act, charter schools may be operated in any school district in the state. The act repeals provisions limiting charter schools to certain school districts and provisions relating to the accreditation status of school districts in which a charter school may operate. (Section 160.400) The proposed charter of a charter school sponsored and approved by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission shall not require the approval of the State Board of Education. (Section 160.405) The act repeals provisions restricting certain state aid payments only to those charter schools in certain school districts. (Section 160.415) Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program or who enroll under provisions of the act authorizing student transfers among school districts and charter schools. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415) SCHOOL PROPERTY (Sections 160.422 and 162.092) Under this act, cities, counties, and school districts (defined as "political subdivisions") shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance, policy, or resolution that prevents property they sell, lease, or transfer from being used by a charter school for any lawful educational purpose. The act also prohibits any deed restriction, property use restriction, or other such restriction that limits property to specific uses that exclude use by a charter public school for any lawful educational purpose. Any existing restriction that bars property previously used for educational purposes from being used for future educational purposes by a charter school is void. Any ordinance, policy, regulation, deed, use restriction, or contract made in violation of this act is void from its inception. (Section 160.422) Additionally, when a school district offers to sell or lease an unused school building or facility that is not being used for academic, extracurricular, administrative, or athletic purposes, and that either has no approved plan for future use or has a plan that has not been carried out within two years, the contract shall include a right of first refusal allowing a public entity to purchase or lease the property first. The term "public entity" includes the state of Missouri and any of its political subdivisions, such as cities, counties, boards, agencies, or authorities. If the school district accepts an offer to sell or lease the unused building or facility to a non-public entity, such district shall post a public notice on its website stating that the property is available. The public notice shall include the property's square footage, the district's contact information, and a statement that the right of first refusal expires 60 days after this notification. If multiple public entities express interest in the unused building or facility, the school district shall decide which entity shall purchase or lease the property. During negotiations, the school district may choose whether to sell or lease the property, at fair market value or less. A lease shall allow reasonable access and use of shared common areas. If a public entity leases the entire facility and incurs debt to make improvements, the school district shall subordinate its lease interest to that debt. The public entity shall have six months from the date of its written offer to complete the purchase or lease. While leasing, the public entity shall be responsible for all direct expenses, including utilities, insurance, maintenance, property taxes, and repairs. If a public entity later decides to sell a facility it purchased from a school district, such public entity shall first offer the property back to that district, following the same procedures set forth in the act. (Section 162.092) These provisions are similar to SB 1273 (2026), SCS/HCS/HBs 2404 & 2172 (2026), and to provisions in SB 398 (2025), HB 447 (2025), HB 1044 (2025), SB 1006 (2024), SB 1123 (2024), HB 2088 (2024), HB 2178 (2024), SB 304 (2023), SB 650 (2022), HB 2087 (2022), SCS/SB 55, 25, & 23 (2021), SB 315 (2021), HCS/HB 137 (2021), HB 322 (2021), HB 729 (2021), SB 649 (2020), SB 603 (2020), HB 1917 (2020), SB 51 (2019), SCS/SB 271 (2019), SS#2/SCS/SB 292 (2019), SCS/HB 485 (2019), HCS/SS/SB 218 (2019), HCS/HB 581 (2019), and HCS/HB 924 (2019). STUDENT TRANSFERS (Sections 160.410, 160.415, 167.241, 167.895, and 167.898) Current law authorizes students who reside in an unaccredited school district to transfer to an accredited school district in the same or an adjoining county under certain conditions. This act repeals and modifies provisions limiting these transfers to students in unaccredited school districts. Under the act, any student may transfer to another public school or charter school, including transfers from a student's district of residence ("sending district") to a public school in a nonresident district ("receiving district"), beginning in the 2027-28 school year and in all subsequent school years. Each school board shall adopt a policy to determine its transfer capacity for each grade level and school no later than October 27, 2026. The policy shall be publicly posted on the school district's website. By July 15, 2027, and by the first of each month thereafter, each school district shall report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) the number of available enrollment slots by grade level and school and the school district's average per pupil expenditure. This information shall also be published in a prominent and publicly accessible place on the school district's website. DESE shall publish and update each school district's transfer capacity on an online portal accessible via the DESE website. The portal shall be updated at least monthly and shall include a search function for users to identify schools with capacity to accept transfer students near their home address. Parents of students who wish to transfer shall notify DESE by August 1, 2027, and by the first day of each month thereafter, and DESE shall assign students to a receiving district or charter school as provided in the act. A receiving district shall accept all students who apply and are assigned to the district, so long as there is capacity for each student. School board policies shall not discriminate against any transfer student on the basis of such student's residential address, academic performance, athletic ability, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, or free and reduced price lunch status. If a request for transfer is denied, an appeal may be taken to the State Board of Education by sending the appeal by certified mail to the superintendent of the receiving school district and to the State Board of Education. Any appeal not heard by the State Board of Education within 60 calendar days shall be deemed granted with immediate effect. DESE shall develop forms for filing appeals, and the State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to establish the appeals process. The act repeals provisions requiring sending districts to make tuition payments to receiving districts. Instead, for purposes of calculating state and federal aid, each transfer student shall be counted as a resident of the receiving district in which the student is enrolled. Tuition shall not be charged to any student or to his or her parent or legal guardian. If the receiving district is part of a special school district, the sending district shall contract with the special school district for the entirety of the costs to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation. The special school district may contract with a sending district for transportation, or the sending district may provide transportation on its own. The act outlines school districts' responsibilities for the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities. A special school district shall continue to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to another school within the special school district. If the sending district is a metropolitan school district, it shall remain responsible for providing special education and related services, including transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to a receiving district. A special school district in an adjoining county to a metropolitan school district may contract with the metropolitan school district for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the special school district for transfer students. A receiving district that is not part of a special school district shall not be responsible for providing transportation to transfer students, regardless of whether transportation is identified as a related service within a student's individualized education program. A sending district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district for transportation of students with disabilities. A seven-director or urban school district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district in the same or an adjoining county for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the receiving district. (Sections 167.895 and 167.898) Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under these provisions. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415) DESE shall designate at least one receiving district or charter school to which each sending district shall provide transportation. A sending district shall be required to provide transportation only to the school district or charter school designated by DESE. (Section 167.241) These provisions are similar to SCS/SBs 215 & 70 (2025). ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION (Section 168.189) Under this act, a school district may consider, but may not require, any criteria greater than that which is necessary to obtain a Missouri initial administrator certificate under rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. A school district may employ such an individual if the individual holds a master's degree or its equivalent and has at least eight years of experience in an executive role with responsibilities described in the act, and if a waiver specific to the applicant has been granted to the school district for this purpose. Such a waiver shall be valid for no longer than three years and eligible for renewal once. Upon conclusion of the maximum six year waiver period, the State Board of Education may grant the applicant a permanent certificate to serve as an administrator in any school district in the state. This act is similar to HB 2866 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNONdied on adjournment
Latest action 2026-02-05: Second Read and Referred S Education Committee