HB 3022 modifies Missouri's empowerment scholarship program to provide state-funded accounts for eligible students. It directly affects Missouri students with disabilities (via IEPs) or from low-income households (income ≤300% of free lunch standards), and schools accepting these funds. Key provisions require participating schools to not discriminate based on race, religion, or gender identity, and ensure public schools continue receiving state/federal funding for students who use scholarships to attend non-resident schools (counted for up to five years). The law expires five years after its effective date.
HB 3102 establishes the "A+ Schools Program" to support public secondary schools in Missouri. It requires participating schools to meet specific standards, including ensuring all students graduate with challenging coursework, earn college credits or secure postsecondary pathways, and implement measurable performance plans. Schools must develop community partnerships involving businesses and educators, and nonpublic schools meeting criteria can also qualify for student reimbursement of postsecondary education costs. The program provides grants for schools meeting these requirements, with annual reimbursement for eligible students attending public or approved private colleges/vocational schools after graduating from qualifying high schools.
HB 2705 modifies Missouri's tax treatment of qualified tuition programs (like 529 college savings plans). It exempts money in these plans from state income tax and allows taxpayers to deduct up to $8,000 annually (or $16,000 for joint filers) from their Missouri adjusted gross income for contributions. Funds withdrawn for non-education purposes or not used within required timeframes must be added back to taxable income. This bill directly affects Missouri residents using 529 plans for education savings by providing state tax benefits for contributions and growth.
HB 2913 provides legal immunity to teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. Teachers gain immunity if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief their actions are justified under self-defense law. Schools also receive immunity for teachers' actions when following this law, but immunity does not cover willful misconduct or gross negligence. The bill prohibits school districts from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in violent incidents.
HB 2932, as detailed in the provided text, focuses on educational stability for foster care children and preventing high school dropouts. It requires school districts to prioritize a child’s school of origin during foster care placements (if the new location is over 10 miles away), ensures grades aren’t penalized for absences due to foster care transitions or court appearances, and mandates credit acceptance for coursework completed in any public, nonpublic, or nonsectarian school. The bill also allocates state funds for competitive grants to public colleges, universities, and community organizations to provide dropout prevention services - including tutoring, counseling, and family support - to at-risk students, with services required to occur at nonsectarian sites for nonpublic school students. These provisions aim to reduce educational disruptions for vulnerable youth while ensuring equitable access to support programs.
HB 3123 lowers the minimum age for school entry in Missouri from 7 to 5 years old. It requires parents or guardians to enroll children aged 5 and older in school and ensure regular attendance, with exceptions for children with documented disabilities, those aged 14+ with legal employment, or children with mental health needs supported by professional documentation. Parents may also withdraw children aged 5-7 from school by submitting a written request. The bill clarifies that private, home, and religious schools are not required to follow state-mandated curricula.
SB 1612 - This act creates the "Success for Homeless and Foster Youth in Higher Education Act" and requires all public institutions of higher education to designate a homeless and foster student liaison within the institution's financial aid office. The liaison shall assist current and prospective students in applying for federal and state financial aid, as provided in the act. A public institution of higher education may grant resident status to a Missouri resident who is 19 years of age or under at the time of enrollment, regardless of how long the student has resided in the state, if the student is determined to have been homeless at any time during the two years immediately preceding such student's enrollment. A public institution of higher education that offers student housing may develop a plan to provide that homeless and foster students have access to housing resources as needed during and between academic terms. The plan may grant such students first priority for housing placement and provide that they be placed in the institution's housing facility that remains open for occupation during the most days in a calendar year. This act is similar to HCS/HB 2722 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2013 is Missouri's fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriations bill, allocating $378,717 to $2.26 million in specific funds to state departments like Education, Revenue, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. It details exact funding sources (e.g., General Revenue, Federal Funds, and dedicated trust funds) for departmental operations, equipment, and programs. The bill includes limited flexibility provisions, allowing up to 25% reallocation between certain sections and 100% flexibility for federal funds within designated categories. It directly affects all Missouri state departments and agencies receiving funding through this bill, covering expenses from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. This is a standard budget bill that authorizes spending, not a policy change.
HB 2929 establishes how districts without high schools (through 12th grade) pay tuition to districts that provide high school education. It requires sending districts to pay the receiving district's actual per-pupil cost of maintaining high school programs - calculated by dividing the district's costs (teachers' wages, maintenance, debt service, etc.) by average daily attendance - without exceeding those specific expenses. The tuition rate must be finalized and provided to the sending district by March 1st each year for the following school year, with disputes resolved by the state board of education. This directly affects students in districts without high schools and the districts that serve them.
HB 2697 modifies the definition of "qualified student" for Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. It excludes students who are "illegal aliens" and adds two eligibility pathways: (1) students with an IEP under federal special education law, or (2) students from households earning ≤300% of the free/reduced lunch income threshold who attended public school recently or meet specific grade-level/sibling criteria. The bill directly affects students seeking scholarship funds to attend participating private, charter, or virtual schools. It does not create new funding but changes who qualifies for existing scholarship accounts under Section 166.700.
