HB 3470 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Establishes the "Hope Missouri" Act

HB 3470 establishes the "Hope Missouri" program within the Missouri Department of Social Services to help residents overcome barriers to self-sufficiency, such as unstable housing, lack of employment, or insufficient skills. The program coordinates state agencies and community partners (including nonprofits and private organizations) to provide holistic support through a dedicated case management system for referrals and service coordination. Participation is voluntary for eligible Missouri residents who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents meeting age requirements (18+ or younger with parental consent). The law requires state agencies to use existing resources to implement the program, focusing on connecting individuals with resources to achieve immediate and long-term goals.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action Apr 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced House Committee Substitute · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renamed from the 'Hope Missouri' act to the 'Charity Act,' replacing the program name throughout the text. A new 'Task Force on the Protection of Children and Families' was added to oversee the program, with specific duties to review child removal, parental rights, and foster care policies. The task force is authorized to exist for one year until December 31, 2027, and must submit a final report by December 30, 2027.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include a new oversight body (the Task Force) responsible for safeguarding children and ensuring accountability in child protection efforts.
DEFINITION

The official name of the program was changed from 'Hope Missouri' to 'Charity' in all sections.

ENFORCEMENT

A new 'Task Force on the Protection of Children and Families' was created, composed of legislators, a children's division representative, a family law expert, and a foster parent.

REQUIREMENT

The Task Force is required to report to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 30, 2027, covering implementation updates and recommendations on child removal and parental rights.

TIMELINE

The Task Force is established for a one-year term, expiring on December 31, 2027, to assist with the initial implementation of the program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
3
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 14 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Referred: Children and Families(H)
lower
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Read First Time (H)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Melissa Schmidt
Melissa Schmidt
RRepublican
MO
141