HB 3140 creates a mileage reimbursement component for Missouri's existing dual enrollment scholarship program. It provides eligible high school students with reimbursement for transportation costs (37 cents per mile) when attending dual enrollment courses at locations other than their high school, if the school doesn't offer transportation. To qualify, students must meet standard eligibility requirements including Missouri residency, a 2.5 GPA, and one indicator of economic need (like SNAP or free lunch eligibility). Reimbursements are calculated based on round-trip mileage, require record-keeping, and are paid quarterly. The program is funded through the newly established "Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Scholarship Fund."
SB 971 updates Missouri's charter school enrollment rules for nonresident students. It allows charter schools to admit nonresident students under specific conditions, such as those transferring from unaccredited districts, participating in urban transfer programs, or residing in residential care facilities. The bill requires charter schools to use non-discriminatory admissions processes (prohibiting bias based on race, income, or disability), while permitting limited preferences for siblings, workplace connections, high-risk students, or those eligible for free lunch. These changes apply directly to Missouri charter schools and students seeking enrollment outside their home school district.
HB 1934 establishes a 15-member "College Admission and Financial Aid Letter Consistency Task Force" to create standardized forms for public colleges and universities in Missouri. The task force, appointed by specified groups including students, parents, college administrators, and counselors, must develop standard admission and financial aid letters by January 1, 2027. The standardized financial aid letter must clearly list estimated costs (tuition, fees, books, etc.), all aid types with repayment explanations, graduation rates, and a glossary of terms. This bill directly affects public Missouri colleges/universities, requiring them to adopt these standardized letters for student communications.
SB 1341 would authorize a tax credit for eligible taxpayers who pay certain educational expenses, such as tuition or qualified training costs. The bill would allow these taxpayers to reduce their state income tax liability by a specified amount based on their qualifying expenses. However, the official abstract does not specify which educational expenses qualify, the credit amount, or the exact eligibility criteria for taxpayers. As a prefiled bill (first read on 2026-01-07), it remains under consideration and has not yet become law.
SB 1048 - This act creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver" to provide college tuition waivers for the children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans. The act defines an "institution" as including any state college or university or public community college that receives appropriations from the General Assembly for operating expenses and satisfies certain other conditions established in current law. A dependent of a veteran shall be eligible to receive a waiver of tuition and fees at an institution, up to a maximum that shall not exceed the amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri-Columbia for attendance, if the dependent has a parent, stepparent, or spouse who is or was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, died after discharge from the military as a result of injury or illness, is rated as permanently and totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war. For a dependent who is the child or stepchild of such a veteran, the act specifies that the dependent shall be under 26 years old unless the dependent serves on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, in which case the eligibility period shall be extended a maximum of five years, up to the dependent's 31st birthday. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to implement the provisions of the act. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall ensure that the application process is accessible, transparent, and efficiently administered. The Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission shall establish application procedures, determine applicants' eligibility, certify approved applicants, establish procedures for fraud prevention, and oversee program compliance and reporting, as provided in the act. The Executive Director shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to facilitate communication with institutions, ensure proper implementation of the waivers, and maintain program efficiency. The Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall ensure consistent implementation of the act across all institutions, develop guidelines for institutions to process tuition waivers, and coordinate with the Missouri Veterans Commission to ensure seamless communication and prevent administrative delays for eligible applicants. A tuition waiver shall be valid for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university. Receipt of a degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college shall precede receipt of a baccalaureate degree. A recipient of a tuition waiver shall be ineligible for the Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant Program, the Survivors of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program, and any other state-funded veteran-dependent tuition grant, waiver, or scholarship. A student who has previously received any such grant, waiver, or scholarship shall not be eligible to receive a tuition waiver, and a student shall not concurrently receive a tuition waiver and any other such grant, waiver, or scholarship. A recipient of a tuition waiver may transfer from one institution to another without losing entitlement to the tuition waiver. If a recipient is granted financial assistance under any other student aid program, whether public or private, the full amount of such financial assistance shall be reported to the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. This act is identical to HB 2074 (2026) substantially similar to SB 716 (2025). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2449 creates a tax credit for Missouri residents who pay for eligible educational expenses for their children attending qualifying schools. It directly affects parents or guardians of students enrolled in private, parochial, home, or family-paced schools (excluding public schools). The credit covers tuition, textbooks, curriculum materials, tutoring, technology, and educational therapies, but excludes basic supplies like paper/pens and costs tied to public school activities. The credit amount is limited to 100% of eligible expenses or Missouri’s state funding target for education, whichever is lower, and becomes available starting tax year 2027. Taxpayers must submit itemized expense lists and documentation with their state income tax return.
HB 2116 modifies Missouri's tax treatment for qualified tuition programs, primarily federal 529 college savings plans. It exempts program assets, income, and refunds for qualified education expenses from state income tax, while allowing taxpayers to deduct up to $8,000 annually (or $16,000 for joint filers) from their state taxable income for contributions. Distributions not used for education expenses or transferred per federal rules would become taxable income. This bill directly affects Missouri residents who use 529 plans for education savings, providing state tax benefits tied to federal program rules.
HB 2062 changes Missouri's higher education residency rules for tuition purposes. It requires public and private Missouri colleges receiving state funds to treat as in-state residents any student who graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, or home) or earned a high school equivalency in Missouri. Non-citizen students must provide a written statement agreeing to pursue legal status if eligible, but institutions cannot deny admission based solely on immigration status. The bill also mandates that all residency information collected during admission stays confidential.
HB 2367 modifies Missouri law to allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degree programs in specific workforce shortage fields. It defines "workforce shortage" as a determination by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) showing more job vacancies than available workers in a field. The bill permits community colleges to provide bachelor's degrees only when: (1) a persistent shortage exists requiring that degree level; (2) accreditation/licensure now requires a bachelor's; or (3) employment needs increase to that level without duplicating existing programs. This change directly affects community colleges seeking to address local labor gaps and students pursuing careers in those high-demand fields.
SB 967 proposes creating the Black History Education and Awareness Act and designating the first week in February as Black History Week. The bill would require public schools to incorporate Black history into their curriculum during this designated week and support related educational activities. It directly affects public school districts and educators by mandating specific curriculum content during February. The legislation aims to strengthen educational focus on Black history through structured, state-supported programming. (Note: This bill is currently in committee review and has not yet become law.)
