HB 2867 requires Missouri public school districts to implement a mandatory personal finance course for students, effective with the 2027-28 school year. The course, worth one-half credit, must cover practical topics like budgeting, credit management, saving, banking, taxes, and understanding major purchases such as housing. It directs the state education department to develop curriculum standards by convening a work group including educators, industry representatives, and nonprofit experts. All students must complete this course after grade nine to earn a high school diploma, with limited waiver options for transfer students or career-focused plans.
HB 2003 is Missouri's 2026-2027 state budget bill allocating funds to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. It provides $29 million for the Higher Education Academic Scholarship Program, $84 million for the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, and $16.8 million for academic scholarships, all funded through state revenue and trust funds. The bill also allocates $601,000 for regulating proprietary schools, $200,000 for indemnifying individuals affected by proprietary school closures, and $1.5 million for non-Common Core-related donations. These funds are designated for specific programs and must be used as outlined, with some flexibility between budget categories. The bill covers the fiscal year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
HB 2827 bans corporal punishment in all public school districts by requiring written discipline policies that prohibit physical punishment and spanking. It mandates annual staff training on these policies, requires schools to report serious violent or drug-related offenses (including specific crimes like assault, kidnapping, or drug distribution) to law enforcement, and adds a new rule: students suspended for such offenses must stay at least 1,000 feet from school property during their suspension unless under specific adult supervision or enrolled in an alternative school nearby. The bill directly affects all public school students, staff, and districts in the state, replacing previous policies that allowed limited corporal punishment with a total prohibition.
HCR 31 establishes the "State of Missouri Seal of Civic Recognition" for high school seniors who meet specific civic engagement criteria. To qualify, students must complete 2-6 years of designated civic education coursework, participate in community service and school governance, join a civic club, and commit to one year of post-graduation civic or military service. The seal is awarded in Bronze (2+ years), Silver (4+ years), or Gold (6+ years) tiers and will accompany the student's diploma. The resolution encourages schools, organizations, and businesses to support recipients with scholarships, internships, or mentorship opportunities. This resolution applies to all Missouri high school graduates in public, private, parochial, or homeschool settings.
HB 2914 establishes new standards for teacher training in Missouri to improve early literacy instruction. It requires all teacher education programs to include specific evidence-based training in reading components (like phonics, fluency, and vocabulary) for educators preparing to teach kindergarten through fifth grade. The bill creates the Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) to advise on teacher training and mandates annual reviews of programs starting in 2027 to ensure compliance. It also creates a dedicated fund to reimburse school districts for literacy-focused initiatives, including teacher training, tutoring, and evidence-based reading materials. This bill directly affects teacher preparation programs, public school educators, and elementary students statewide.
HB 2722 establishes a dedicated liaison position within Missouri's Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to support homeless students pursuing postsecondary education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to finance this role and requires the liaison to develop databases tracking homeless students' graduation and retention rates, connect students to campus resources like housing and food banks, and collaborate with high schools and colleges. It directly affects homeless students in Missouri colleges by creating a centralized point of contact to address barriers like housing instability and access to support services. The liaison must be nonpartisan, independent of other homeless service providers, and focus exclusively on this role to improve educational outcomes for this population.
HB 3024 requires public and charter schools to implement suicide prevention measures for students and staff. Starting in 2023-24, all teachers and licensed educators must complete at least two hours of annual suicide prevention training, including Columbia Protocol risk assessment tools by 2027. Schools serving grades 7-12 must print the 988 suicide lifeline number on student ID cards starting July 2025, and all high schools must provide mental health awareness instruction to students during their four years of high school. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, and students by mandating training, policy updates, and visible crisis resources.
HB 3139 requires Missouri schools to establish standardized computer science courses covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, and algorithms for all grades. It allows these courses to count toward math or science graduation credits while mandating schools to inform students and parents about potential college admission impacts. The bill creates a dedicated fund for teacher training in computer science and requires all high schools to offer at least one CS course by 2023. Schools must also report student demographics in these courses to track participation across gender, race, and special education status.
HB 2900 expands Missouri's scholarship program to allow eligible students with disabilities or from low-income families to use state funds for private school tuition. It defines "qualified students" as those with IEPs/504 plans or from households earning under 300% of free lunch income, and requires participating schools (including private, charter, and virtual schools) to not discriminate based on protected characteristics. The bill ensures public schools retain state funding for students who leave for scholarship programs for up to five years. This maintains public school funding stability while expanding school choice options under specific eligibility criteria.
SJR 111 proposes a constitutional amendment modifying Missouri's real property tax rules. It would allow school districts with 1995 federal court-ordered property tax levies to lower their rates (with voter approval needed to raise rates back to the court level), ending this provision by December 31, 2026. It also requires counties to get voter approval for most tax increases and adjusts tax limits based on property valuation changes and the Consumer Price Index. This amendment must be approved by Missouri voters in the 2026 election to take effect.
