HB 2097 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Changes a pilot agricultural education program in elementary schools to a statewide program

HB 2097 converts a temporary pilot program for agricultural education in elementary schools into a statewide program, effective for the 2027-28 school year. Public elementary schools can voluntarily apply to participate, with participating schools required to implement and fully fund the program for at least three years. The program must include grade-appropriate instruction, collaborative learning activities, and career development opportunities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee implementation, evaluate the program’s impact, and report results to relevant legislative committees.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Governor

Introduced Dec 2, 2025 Last action May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Perfected → Senate Substitute (Senate Floor Substitute) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to expand its scope from a single agricultural education topic to a comprehensive education reform package. The new version repeals numerous existing statutes across multiple chapters and replaces them with thirty-six new sections covering workforce development, early childhood education funding, and broad educational standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from exclusively regulating agricultural education to establishing a wide-ranging framework for education, including new provisions for early childhood development funds and workforce displacement.

SCOPE

Removed the sole focus on agricultural education standards and the specific pilot program for elementary schools, which was replaced by a much broader legislative agenda.

Added extensive repeals of laws in chapters 23, 135, 160, 161, 162, 166, 173, 174, 178, 186, 210, 288, and 620, indicating a complete overhaul of multiple education-related statutes.

Changed the bill title and purpose to reflect the repeal of thirty-six sections and the enactment of new sections relating to general education rather than just agriculture.

FISCAL

Introduced new sections establishing a special 'Early Childhood Education and Child Care Fund' for cities, detailing how tax revenues must be deposited, managed, and prioritized for services.

ADDED

Added new definitions for terms like 'Board', 'Child care provider', and 'Early childhood education service provider' to support the new early childhood education framework.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the Board to prioritize funding for children in financial need and those on state subsidy waitlists.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 14, 2026

Committee

Referred: Fiscal Review(H)

lower

May 14, 2026

Introduced

Reported to the House with... (H) - SS, as amended

lower

May 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third Read and Passed with Amendments (S) - SA 1, SA 2, SA 4, SA 5 - AYES: 19 NOES: 12 PRESENT: 0

upper

May 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

SS Adopted (S)

upper

May 14, 2026

Introduced

SS Offered

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Do Pass (S)

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Voted Do Pass (S)

upper

Mar 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Thursday, April 2, 2026, 9:00 a.m., Senate Committee Room 1 - 1st Floor

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Second read and referred: Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources(S)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 148 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Adopted (H)

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

lower

Jan 8, 2026

Committee

Referred: Special Committee on Rural Issues(H)

lower

Dec 2, 2025

Introduced

Prefiled (H)

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors