HB 1919 changes Missouri's requirement for employers to file wage tax information returns electronically. Starting January 1, 2027, employers with at least 10 employees must submit these returns electronically by January 31 each year, using the same file specifications as required by the Social Security Administration. This applies to employers who withhold wages and would otherwise be required to file similar returns with the IRS. Employers granted an IRS waiver for electronic filing automatically receive the same waiver for Missouri filings.
HB 2760, the "PRAISE Act," prohibits state and local governments from restricting religious services during emergencies declared under specific laws, directly affecting places of worship and their attendees. It ensures religious services cannot be made impractical by emergency orders, unless the emergency involves imminent dangers like wildfires or terrorism that apply broadly to the area. The bill allows places of worship to be exempt from general emergency restrictions and provides a legal path for civil lawsuits seeking injunctions, damages, or declarations if violations occur. It explicitly excludes emergency evacuations for immediate threats but requires services to resume once the danger passes.
HB 2658 creates a state "no-call database" allowing Missouri residential phone subscribers to opt out of unsolicited telemarketing calls at no cost. It requires telemarketers to check both the FCC's reassigned number database and the state database before calling, and prohibits "call spoofing" (faking caller ID to defraud or harass). The law also mandates that telemarketers clearly identify themselves at the start of calls and blocks efforts to circumvent caller ID services. This directly affects residential subscribers (who can join the database) and telemarketers (who must comply with the rules and database checks).
HB 3113 requires public buildings to store naloxone (an overdose reversal medication) in first aid kits and near defibrillators, and to inform occupants of its location and emergency procedures. It designates April as "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month" and mandates school districts to establish drug-free advisory committees with community input, implement grade 6-12 fentanyl education, and develop prevention programs for students. The bill also directs law enforcement to investigate all drug-related deaths as homicide crime scenes, regardless of criminal charges, and to collaborate with schools on drug trafficking prevention in school zones. These provisions directly affect public buildings, school districts, and law enforcement agencies across Missouri.
HB 1667, the "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," requires healthcare providers at abortion facilities to provide immediate medical care to any child born alive during or after an abortion, treating them as they would any other newborn. Providers must use standard medical care to preserve the child's life and arrange hospital admission, with failure to report violations carrying criminal penalties (up to 5 years in prison or $10,000 fines). The bill also establishes civil liability for providers who fail to provide care, for actions causing death of a born-alive child, or for performing unlawful abortions, allowing lawsuits for injury or death with damages including loss of companionship. It explicitly states that consent to an abortion cannot be used as a defense in such cases.
HB 1718 sets new financial limits on lawsuits against Missouri public entities (like cities, counties, and state agencies) for injuries or property damage. It caps total liability for a single incident at $2 million and limits individual claims to $300,000 per person, excluding workers' compensation cases. The bill also prohibits punitive damages in such claims and requires annual inflation adjustments to these limits using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis' Implicit Price Deflator. These changes directly affect public entities facing tort claims and alter how liability awards are calculated and paid.
HB 1885 establishes the "Clean Water Commission of the State of Missouri" to replace the previous commission structure. The bill sets specific requirements for the commission: seven members appointed by the governor (with Senate approval), no more than four from the same political party, and at least two members must have expertise in agriculture, industry, or mining. It also prohibits members from having significant income from permit holders in the past two years and mandates at least four public meetings annually. This commission directly governs water quality regulations affecting public health, agriculture, industry, and wastewater systems across Missouri.
HB 2033, known as the "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," prohibits health care providers in Missouri from performing gender transition surgeries or prescribing cross-sex hormones and puberty-blocking drugs for gender transition to individuals under 18 years old. The law includes a temporary exception allowing continued treatment for minors who began such care before August 28, 2023, until March 1, 2027. Violations would be deemed unprofessional conduct, risking license revocation for providers, and could lead to civil lawsuits against them. This bill directly affects transgender and gender-diverse minors under 18 seeking medical transition care and the health care providers who treat them in Missouri.
HB 2145 modifies outdoor advertising rules near highways in Missouri. It permits signs within 660 feet of interstate, federal-aid primary, or National Highway System roads - especially in industrial/commercial zones - and sets specific limits: signs cannot exceed 800 square feet (30 ft tall, 72 ft long), must avoid flashing lights (except scoreboards), and must maintain 1,400 feet between structures on the same highway side. The bill directly affects outdoor advertising companies, property owners in commercial zones, and highway safety by restricting sign placement to reduce visual clutter and driver distraction. Existing signs not meeting these rules after 2002 will be considered "nonconforming" but may remain.
This bill's abstract states it "modifies provisions relating to compensation for services rendered in veteran benefits matters," but provides no specific details about the changes, affected parties, or mechanisms. The current context lacks substantive information about the bill's content, such as who would be affected (e.g., veterans, attorneys, agencies) or what specific compensation rules would be altered. Without further details in the abstract or summary, a meaningful policy description cannot be provided. As the bill is in early stages (prefiled, referred to committee), no concrete changes or provisions are outlined in the available information.
HB 2780 establishes new rules for creating neighborhood improvement districts, which allow local governments to fund neighborhood projects through property assessments. It provides two pathways: requiring voter approval (with detailed project disclosures) or a petition signed by owners of 2/3 of the district’s property area. The bill strictly limits cost overruns - final project costs and annual maintenance assessments cannot exceed initial estimates by more than 25%. This directly affects property owners in designated districts, as they may face new assessments for improvements like street repairs or park upgrades.
HB 3035 modifies how Missouri assessors value taxable property, primarily affecting property owners and local governments. It establishes a 5% assessment rate for historic motor vehicles (registered under §301.131) and certain older aircraft, while adjusting airport-related property valuations to subtract costs paid by non-government parties for improvements after 2007. The bill also requires counties to use a two-year assessment cycle (odd/even years) and submit annual maintenance plans to the state tax commission for approval. These changes directly impact property tax calculations for specific categories of real and personal property across Missouri.
