Immigration (DACA & Dreamers)

HB 2518 ensures DACA recipients who meet all educational and professional requirements for a licensed occupation in the state can obtain a license on the same terms as U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. It prohibits oversight bodies (like licensing boards) from considering immigration status when reviewing applications, requiring evaluations to be based solely on qualifications, education, and competency. The bill directly affects DACA recipients seeking professions requiring state licenses (e.g., healthcare, law, trades) and mandates that their licenses carry identical rights, renewability, and validity periods as those issued to citizens. The law takes effect for all applications submitted on or after August 28, 2026.

HB 2487 modifies Missouri's higher education residency rules to automatically treat as Missouri residents students who graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, or homeschool), unless they establish residence elsewhere. Non-citizen students must provide a written statement agreeing to pursue legal status when eligible. Missouri colleges receiving state funds cannot deny admission based solely on immigration status if these conditions are met, and all applicant information collected under this section must remain confidential. The bill also requires colleges to verify students' legal status for financial aid but does not change tuition rates.

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.