Labor & Employment in Missouri

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2681: Modifies provisions relating to supplemental workers' compensation insurance for volunteer firefighters

HB 2681 allows volunteer fire departments, counties, municipalities, or groups of employers to purchase supplemental workers' compensation insurance for volunteer firefighters injured while on duty. This supplemental coverage provides additional payments beyond standard workers' compensation benefits, including temporary disability payments. Entities already self-insuring their workers' compensation (like volunteer fire departments) may optionally fund this coverage through their existing self-insurance plans or use general tax revenues not designated for other purposes. The bill modifies existing rules to clarify how this optional supplemental coverage can be arranged and paid for.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 3132: Establishes safeguards concerning discriminatory practices against persons who have been convicted of certain offenses

HB 3132 creates a court-issued "certificate of exemplary conduct" for eligible individuals with certain past convictions (excluding sex offenses requiring registry). This certificate prevents employers, housing providers, and licensing boards from considering their conviction history when making decisions about jobs, housing, or professional licenses. The court must grant the certificate if an applicant demonstrates consistent good moral character and that granting it serves the public interest, with annual reports required on how often the certificate is used. The bill directly affects people with non-sex-offense convictions who meet these standards, removing barriers to employment and licensing without changing existing criminal penalties.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Courts

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2983: Modifies provisions relating to the payment of workers' compensation upon the death of an employee to allow payments to be made to family members when there are no dependents

HB 2983 changes workers' compensation rules so that if an employee dies and has no dependents, payments can go directly to certain family members instead of being held by the estate. It specifically allows payments to adult children (even if too old to be dependents), parents, grandparents, siblings, or other close relatives defined in the bill. The bill explicitly rejects a 2007 Missouri court case (Schoemehl v. Treasurer) that had previously limited these payments to dependents only. This affects families of deceased workers who currently might not receive compensation due to lack of qualifying dependents.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

in committee · Missouri · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2979: Creates provisions relating to covenants not to compete involving physicians

HB 2979, the "Missouri Rural Doctors Act," restricts non-compete agreements between physicians and nonprofit healthcare employers. It limits such agreements to no more than 365 days and a 5-mile geographic radius around the physician's specific clinical facility, applying only to physicians providing direct patient care. The law does not apply to agreements with research university hospitals. This directly affects rural doctors and nonprofit clinics by preventing overly broad restrictions that could limit patient access to care. The bill aims to support physician mobility in underserved areas without banning non-competes entirely.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 3079: Allows speech-language pathologists employed by a public school to qualify for benefits under the Public Schools Retirement System of Missouri

HB 3079 allows speech-language pathologists working in Missouri public schools or charter schools to qualify for retirement benefits under the Public Schools Retirement System. The bill requires the state education department to recognize these professionals as equivalent to certified teachers for employment, benefits, and retirement eligibility, provided they hold a valid state license. It ensures they receive the same retirement contributions, service credit, and benefits as teachers. The bill takes effect July 1, 2027, and directly affects licensed speech-language pathologists in Missouri public schools.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2992: Modifies provisions governing the "Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant"

HB 2992 establishes Missouri's "Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant" program, providing state-funded grants to eligible Missouri residents for approved postsecondary education or apprenticeships. It directly affects individuals meeting specific criteria: Missouri residents aged 25+ or with no prior postsecondary enrollment for two years, with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (joint) or $50,000 (individual), and enrolled in programs targeting occupational shortages. Grants cover related educational costs like tools and books, and require recipients to maintain a 2.5 GPA for renewals while pursuing certificates, degrees, or industry credentials. The program expires after four semesters, upon earning a bachelor's degree, or reaching 200% of typical program completion time, administered by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Missouri · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 3069: Establishes and modifies provisions relating to school districts

HB 3069 allows school districts to deduct specific payments from employee paychecks when requested by a group of ten or more employees. These deductions cover items like retirement accounts, credit unions, or dues to qualified professional associations (defined as groups handling workplace issues, not political funds). The bill prohibits districts from deducting dues for political funds or restricting employees from joining or leaving these associations at any time. It also requires districts to remit deductions within 15 days and protects them from liability for good-faith errors. This directly affects school district employees and their employers by changing payroll deduction rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Collective Bargaining

in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1204: Modifies provisions relating to prohibited discriminatory practices

SB 1204 revises definitions in Missouri's existing anti-discrimination law to clarify terms like "disability," "age," and "familial status." It updates the definition of "disability" to explicitly include people who have successfully completed drug rehabilitation or are participating in such programs, while excluding current illegal substance use. The bill also refines the "age" definition to allow mandatory retirement for certain executives aged 65+ with specific pension benefits. These changes directly affect employers, housing providers, and public accommodations covered under Missouri's human rights law, ensuring clearer application of existing anti-discrimination protections. The bill is currently prefiled and awaiting legislative review.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1218: Prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity

SB 1218 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in key areas like employment, housing, and public accommodations. It directly affects LGBTQ+ individuals who might face unfair treatment in these settings. The bill would require businesses, landlords, and service providers to refrain from making decisions based on these protected characteristics. Currently, the bill has been prefilled and is awaiting its first reading in the legislature.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Veterans

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2624: Establishes the "Kinship Infant Care Support Program"

HB 2624 establishes Missouri's "Kinship Infant Care Support Program" to provide financial support to relatives caring for infants under one year old. Eligible caregivers (like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings) receive hourly payments so the infant's parent or parents can work, attend school, or complete job training for at least 20 hours weekly while meeting income limits (≤250% of federal poverty level). The program pays higher hourly rates for families below 150% poverty, requires background checks and initial safety training (including CPR and safe sleep practices), and limits payments to 60 hours weekly per infant (max two infants). Caregivers cannot receive this support if they already get other child care subsidies or foster care payments.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

All labor & employment bills