HB 3275 reorganizes how school districts manage four specific funds: Teachers', Incidental, Capital Projects, and Debt Service. It specifies where revenue sources (like property taxes, tuition, bond proceeds, and energy savings contracts) must be deposited and sets strict rules for transferring balances between funds - such as limiting incidental fund transfers to teachers' funds to no more than 25% of annual teacher costs, and requiring excess incidental fund balances over 50% of prior-year combined fund spending to be transferred. The bill directly affects all public school districts by changing their financial management procedures for these designated funds, including new requirements for energy savings contract payments only after realized energy savings.
HB 3540 creates a voluntary mental wellness program called "Journaling for Joy" for school districts and charter schools. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, it allows schools to implement the program for students in third, sixth, and twelfth grades using approved curriculum that includes journaling workbooks, instructor guides, and structured prompts focused on emotional regulation and conflict resolution - without providing therapy or collecting identifiable mental health data. Schools must train teachers using department-approved materials, and the education department will track participation and non-identifiable outcomes like school climate through annual reports. The program expires on August 28, 2033, and requires annual state funding approval for implementation.
HB 3480 modifies Missouri's Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act to clarify eligibility for firefighters seeking free college tuition under the program. It requires firefighters to have at least six years of service, hold a valid fire safety certification, and work full-time in active firefighting duties (excluding volunteers or clerical roles). Eligible firefighters can use the benefit for associate or bachelor's degrees in fields like fire science, emergency management, or related health sciences, covering up to 100% of resident tuition. Dependents of firefighters with ten years of service also qualify for similar tuition coverage under the same terms.
HB 3532 requires Missouri's general assembly to develop and provide public schools with educational resources about the state's legislative process. These resources must explain how Missouri's process is shaped by the U.S. Constitution, Missouri Constitution, and federal/state laws. The bill specifies materials may include real-world experiences, publications, place-based learning accommodations, civic engagement opportunities, and digital tools. The bill is in early stages, having been introduced and read for the second time in March 2026.
HB 3439 modifies Missouri's Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act to expand eligibility for free college tuition. It now includes volunteer firefighters (previously excluded) among public safety personnel who qualify, alongside police officers, paramedics, and EMTs. To qualify, applicants must have at least six years of service, meet specific licensing requirements, pursue approved fields like fire science or emergency management, and apply for other financial aid first. The program covers up to 100% of resident tuition for up to five years or 120 credit hours, with dependent benefits available for those with ten or more years of service.
HB 3483 requires Missouri's legislature to develop educational materials for public schools about how the state's government works. The bill mandates that these resources explain Missouri's legislative process and how it is shaped by the U.S. Constitution, Missouri's Constitution, and federal/state laws. Materials may include real-world experiences, publications, place-based learning activities, civic engagement opportunities, and digital tools. This bill directly affects Missouri public schools and students by requiring new civic education content focused on government structure and processes. The bill is currently in its early stages, having been introduced on February 26, 2026.
HB 3250 requires public schools to create a policy mandating written parental permission for students to leave class during school hours to participate in protests. The policy must specify each protest event's location, topic, and subject matter, and permission is required for every individual protest - not a blanket approval. Schools failing to obtain this permission risk losing per-pupil funding for each violation. This directly affects students, parents, and school districts by changing how student participation in protests is managed during school time.
SB 1777 - This act authorizes a low-performing school district to enter into a contract for the establishment of a "Public School Transformation Campus". If a school district is determined to be in the bottom five percent of scores on the Annual Performance Report (APR) or has a recent APR score consistent with an accreditation status of provisionally accredited or unaccredited, such district may contract with the governing body of a charter school that satisfies certain performance and financial criteria or another entity approved by the State Board of Education to operate a struggling school as a "transformation campus". A school district that enters into such a contract shall be exempt from certain state interventions that would normally apply to struggling schools or districts, such as the School Turnaround Act, special administrative boards, the lapse of an unaccredited district, or the transfer of students out of an unaccredited district. Before entering into a transformation contract, a district shall notify the Commissioner of Education of its intent to pursue the contract. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules concerning how and when this notification shall occur, including certain information provided in the act. The Commissioner shall notify the district within 60 days of receiving all required information whether the proposed contract is approved or rejected. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall encourage approved entities to enter into such contracts with school districts. For accountability purposes during the first two years of a transformation, the transformation campus shall be evaluated with an alternate performance status and shall be publicly identified as a transformation campus. Following the first two years of transformation, the State Board of Education shall assign all performance ratings received by other public schools within the district to the transformation campus. DESE may provide, through state and federal funds where allowable, financial incentives to support transformations under this act. OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 3309 prohibits protests or demonstrations on public school property during scheduled instructional time if they materially disrupt school operations. It directly affects students (who may be marked absent for leaving class), teachers (who could face licensure revocation for facilitating walkouts), and school districts (which risk losing attendance funding for allowing protests). The bill allows discipline only if protests disrupt school work, infringe on others' rights, or violate neutral time/place/manner policies, while preserving students' First Amendment rights for peaceful expression outside class hours. It explicitly prohibits viewpoint-based suppression and protects lawful activities under state/federal law. This proposed bill (introduced February 2026) aims to maintain school order during instruction but retains core free speech protections.
HB 3281 requires all educational software used in Missouri public schools to meet specific accountability standards. It directly affects schools (as "contracting entities"), software vendors, and students by banning addictive design features like infinite scroll, gamified rewards, and persistent notifications. The bill mandates that vendors must sign a statewide digital privacy agreement prohibiting data misuse (including advertising, profiling, or resale), undergo independent effectiveness verification, and comply with strict data collection limits (e.g., no biometrics, emotion tracking, or AI influencing student beliefs). Schools cannot use noncompliant software for instruction, assessments, or school activities, and all software must align with educational purposes only, excluding marketing or commercial content.
