HB 3196 requires employers with 10+ employees to provide each worker with two hours of paid leave monthly specifically for school-related activities involving their child. This covers meetings, conferences, or academic support sessions initiated by schools or childcare providers, including for foster, adopted, or children the employee cares for like a parent. Employers must pay at the employee’s regular rate (not deducted from other leave), allow 30-minute increments, and cannot retaliate against workers using this time. The state labor department enforces the law, imposing $500 penalties for willful violations, while existing benefits under contracts or other laws remain unaffected.
SB 1662 allows Missouri counties to impose an additional county sales tax (up to 1% combined with other sales taxes, with exceptions for small counties for law enforcement after 2025) only after voter approval through a specific ballot measure. The tax must be used for the purpose approved by voters (e.g., early childhood education), and if designated for early childhood education, revenue must be deposited into a dedicated fund. Counties must follow strict voter approval rules, including a two-year waiting period between proposals, and the tax cannot fund stadiums, zoological facilities, or other prohibited purposes. The bill also establishes distribution rules for large counties and ensures revenue aligns with voter-approved priorities.
HB 3149 modifies Missouri county sales tax rules to specifically direct revenue from certain local sales taxes toward early childhood education. It requires counties seeking to fund early childhood education through new sales taxes to obtain voter approval via ballot measure, with the tax rate limited to a combined maximum of 1.5% after 2025. The bill mandates that any revenue collected for this purpose must be deposited into the dedicated early childhood education fund and managed under existing rules (Section 67.5420). This directly affects Missouri counties considering new local sales taxes for education, as well as voters who must approve such tax proposals. The bill does not create new taxes but changes how existing county sales tax authority can be allocated.
This bill modifies Missouri county sales tax rules to allow local governments to fund early childhood education services. It requires counties seeking to impose an additional sales tax (up to 1.5% after 2025 for qualifying counties) to first obtain voter approval via a specific ballot measure. Revenue collected from such taxes must be deposited exclusively into the early childhood education fund, as defined in Section 67.5420. The bill also sets population-based rate limits and prohibits using these taxes for other purposes like zoological facilities or sports stadiums.
HB 2772 establishes the "Youth Workforce Development Program" to provide job training, certifications, and life skills to at-risk youth aged 12-21 in counties with over 1 million residents or cities outside counties. The program, administered by the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, offers vocational training, high school diplomas, internships with local businesses, and mental health support - specifically requiring juvenile detention facilities to provide these services to youth held there. A dedicated state fund finances the program, covering costs like transportation, childcare, mental health services, and internship stipends, with annual reports tracking participant employment rates and recidivism. The program targets youth involved in juvenile justice, those with school suspensions, homelessness, or other risk factors, aiming to improve workforce readiness and reduce future system involvement.
HB 2002 is Missouri's 2026-2027 state budget for public education, allocating over $4.28 billion to fund public school operations through the School Foundation Program. It directly affects all Missouri public school districts, child care facilities providing pre-K programs, and the State Board of Education, with specific funding for classroom instruction, transportation, small schools, and voluntary open enrollment. Key provisions include $7.5 million for open enrollment programs (requiring receiving districts to receive state adequacy payments), $16.2 million for pre-K grants prioritizing low-income children, and strict rules prohibiting use of student data for marketing. The bill transfers funds from multiple state accounts, including General Revenue, Lottery Proceeds, and Sports Wagering for Education, to support these education programs during the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
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.
HB 2020 is Missouri's fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill, allocating $26.3 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and $15.5 million from the Coronavirus Recovery Fund for specific state programs. It funds higher education grants requiring 50% local matching, technology upgrades for job centers, port authority grants (with local match requirements), streetcar planning, and infrastructure projects like state building HVAC repairs and a new warehouse. The bill also supports broadband expansion in underserved areas, a sports facility for athletes with special needs, and early childhood education programs, all subject to local matching funds where specified. This bill directly affects Missouri state agencies, local governments, and qualifying organizations receiving these allocations for designated projects.
HB 3142 creates a new program for nonprofit organizations to operate "adult high schools" in specific Missouri counties, targeting adults facing barriers like educational disadvantages or homelessness. These schools must offer high school diplomas, industry certifications, and childcare, with strict location requirements (e.g., one per designated county type) and partnerships with postsecondary institutions. The bill sets academic standards for diplomas (matching traditional rigor without differentiating marks), allows flexible pacing, and requires schools to address student barriers like homelessness or disabilities. It also repeals and replaces existing camp licensing provisions, though the core focus is on the adult education program.
SB 1029 requires all public school districts to create and maintain a publicly accessible website showing every dollar they receive (from state/local funding, grants, etc.) and spend (on staff, supplies, operations, etc.). This directly affects school districts by mandating a new online financial transparency tool for parents, taxpayers, and community members. The key provision is a single, real-time digital record replacing current manual or fragmented reporting methods. The bill does not alter funding amounts or spending priorities, only the method of disclosing financial information.
