SB 1703 - This act establishes the "Student Screen-Time Standards Act" and requires each school district and charter school to adopt a written policy governing screen time and the use of instructional technology for students in kindergarten through grade five. The policy shall be designed to promote students' educational interests, prevent harmful effects of excessive screen time on child development, ensure that technology supports rather than supplants foundational learning, and restore evidence-based practices. The act outlines required components of the policy, including limits on student screen time, restrictions on the use of school-issued devices, and limits on student access to internet-connected instructional technology, including laptops, tablets, software platforms, and other similar devices. The policy shall identify approved digital platforms, establish standards for student use of hands-on physical learning tools and traditional materials, outline procedures by which parents may obtain information regarding their child's screen time and technology use and limit such use, and describe the research and evidence upon which the policy is based. In developing the policy, each school district or charter school shall consider and document research on best practices in literacy instruction, instructional technology, assessment, and the role of handwriting and cursive writing in promoting literacy. Each elementary school shall notify parents and guardians annually of the adopted policy, provide parents available information regarding their child's login time and technology use upon request, and publish the policy on the school's website. Each policy shall be periodically updated and shall incorporate recommendations from a model school board policy to be developed by the "Framework on Classroom Use of Screens (FOCUS) Council" established in the act. The policy shall be implemented before the end of the 2027–28 school year and shall apply in all subsequent school years. The Literacy Advisory Council established under current law shall provide advice regarding instruction and assessment of cursive writing and reading, and shall develop recommendations for a related model policy on cursive. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a "Framework on Classroom Use of Screens (FOCUS) Council" composed of the Commissioner as chair, with appointed members representing school boards and charter schools; elementary school principals who have completed state leadership training; teachers with expertise in reading, mathematics, and special education; parental and disability advocacy organizations; faculty from approved teacher preparation programs; a licensed pediatric mental health professional or board-certified behavior analyst; and a medical professional with expertise in child health and development. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall provide staff and resources for the council. The council shall conduct a comprehensive survey and analysis of screen time and instructional technology use in public schools, and shall provide guidance on best practices and policies, as provided in the act. By July 1, 2027, the council shall submit a report containing the council's recommendations and a model school board policy on screen time and instructional technology use to the State Board of Education, the Governor, and the Joint Committee on Education. The report shall be updated at least every two years. This act is similar to SCS/HCS/HBs 2230 & 2978 (2026) and to provisions in HCS/SB 1351 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 3457 requires hospitals with emergency departments to implement a visible electronic alert for medically complex pediatric patients (under 18 with chronic conditions needing specialty care). The alert must provide quick access to a parent-submitted care plan (created with a healthcare provider) without delaying treatment, using existing electronic health record systems. Participation is voluntary with parental consent, and hospitals aren't required to buy new technology or create new positions. The bill explicitly prohibits creating a state registry or database and ensures all information complies with privacy laws like HIPAA.
HB 2740 creates a governance board at the University of Missouri to oversee and report on research using radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating rare pediatric diseases (affecting fewer than 200,000 children under 18 in the U.S.). The board, including university medical representatives, legislative appointees, a patient advocate, and an industry partner, must submit annual public reports to Missouri lawmakers by December 31 each year detailing completed research projects, outcomes, funding used, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the University of Missouri system, patient advocates, and the Missouri legislature through its reporting requirements. The board’s duties expire on June 30, 2030.
HB 2745 requires specific health screenings for children entering Missouri's foster care system under the Children's Division. Within 72 hours of custody, a pediatrician must conduct a physical exam, and within 30 days, a developmental/behavioral screening must be completed by a licensed professional. Foster families gain access to the child's medical records within 30 days, and screenings must follow American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The bill directly affects children in state custody, their foster caregivers, and healthcare providers involved in their care.
HB 2249 requires licensed child care facilities to stock epinephrine auto-injectors and create allergy response policies by July 2028, specifically addressing severe food allergies. Facilities must train staff to recognize anaphylaxis symptoms, store devices properly, and follow clear emergency procedures (including notifying emergency services and obtaining parental consent when possible). The bill mandates facilities to adopt policies covering prevention strategies, staff roles, parent cooperation, and medical confidentiality, while providing legal immunity for good-faith use of epinephrine devices. This directly affects child care providers and their staff, aiming to improve emergency responses to life-threatening allergic reactions in children.
HB 2354 modifies protective custody procedures for children in suspected abuse or neglect cases. It allows police, law enforcement, or physicians to take children into temporary custody (up to 24 hours) when immediate danger exists, requiring prompt notification to juvenile officers. The bill also establishes a SAFE-CARE network that mandates referrals to specialists for medical conditions mimicking abuse (like rickets, osteogenesis imperfecta, or vitamin D deficiency) during investigations. Parents or guardians can request alternative medical opinions, and the division must provide access to medical records to support these requests.
HB 2365 requires licensed child care facilities to stock epinephrine auto-injectors, train staff to recognize and respond to severe allergic reactions, and adopt written allergy management policies by July 2028. Facilities must store devices accessibly, provide staff training on use, and notify emergency services when devices are administered. The bill provides liability protection for staff acting in good faith during emergencies and explicitly excludes public schools from coverage. It directly affects child care facilities by standardizing emergency response protocols for life-threatening allergies.
HB 2373 prevents health care providers from denying minors medical services or terminating their care based on whether a child has received vaccines. It directly affects minor children, their parents or guardians, and medical providers who treat minors. The law prohibits providers from refusing health care services to a minor due to their vaccination status and bans dismissing a minor patient solely because parents refuse to consent to vaccinations for the child. This creates a clear standard for equitable access to pediatric care regardless of vaccination choices.
HB 1679 prohibits healthcare providers from denying medical care to minor children based on whether the child has received vaccinations. The bill directly affects children seeking healthcare services and the providers who treat them, ensuring vaccination status cannot be used to withhold care. It adds a new provision requiring providers to offer all necessary health services to minors regardless of their vaccination history. This is a concrete policy change that would legally prevent discrimination in pediatric healthcare access. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having been prefaced and read for the first time in 2026.
HB 2513 requires healthcare providers to create and maintain written, physician-approved individualized care plans for children under 18 with rare or medically complex conditions (defined as conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people nationally or requiring specialized management). The bill mandates annual reviews of these plans, updates after hospitalizations, and specific emergency care instructions within the plan. It requires hospitals and emergency services to report significant protocol deviations (any change from the care plan causing or risking harm) to the child’s primary specialist within 24 hours. The law also establishes training for healthcare professionals on adhering to these care plans and encourages a centralized registry of plans for authorized access. The provisions become effective March 1, 2027.
