HB 2601 repeals a law that allowed state agencies to suspend professional licenses (such as for doctors, lawyers, or contractors) due to unpaid state taxes or failure to file tax returns. This change directly affects licensed professionals who might have faced license suspension over tax issues. The bill removes the authority to use license suspension as a penalty for tax non-compliance, replacing it with standard fee collection processes. It does not alter tax obligations but ensures license status is no longer tied to tax payment. The bill focuses solely on removing this specific enforcement mechanism.
HB 2611, the "Battery Recycling and Safety Act," requires battery manufacturers, distributors, and sellers in the state to join or create a representative organization that establishes a mandatory recycling program for medium-format rechargeable batteries (300-2,000 watt-hours), excluding medical devices, lead-acid batteries, and vehicle batteries. The program must set annual collection targets based on past sales, cover all recycling costs without charging consumers, and use only approved collection sites - batteries cannot be discarded in regular trash. Organizations must submit detailed five-year plans to the Department of Natural Resources, including funding strategies, collection goals, and public outreach, and file annual reports with financial and collection data starting in 2028. This bill directly affects battery businesses and aims to create a statewide recycling infrastructure for portable batteries, with enforcement through department oversight and civil penalties for noncompliance.
HB 2609 requires local governments (like cities or counties) to cover all costs for installing, maintaining, and operating electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at businesses when they mandate such stations. It limits requirements to no more than five stations per parking lot with over 30 spaces and exempts churches and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from these rules. The bill does not prevent businesses or property owners from voluntarily paying for EV charging stations themselves. This policy directly affects local governments that adopt EV station requirements and businesses with qualifying parking lots.
HB 2584 establishes detailed requirements for charter schools in Missouri, directly affecting charter school applicants, sponsors (like school boards or the state board), and students. It mandates comprehensive applications including mission statements, financial plans, academic performance standards, student admission policies, and closure procedures. Key provisions require charter schools to submit legally binding performance contracts outlining academic goals, student discipline policies, special education services, and procedures for transitioning students if a school closes. The bill also prioritizes charter schools serving high-risk students and dropouts, requiring at least one-third of new charters (if a sponsor approves three or more) to focus on these populations. This bill, currently pending in the legislature, would reshape how charter schools are authorized and operated in Missouri.
HB 1904 replaces two existing campaign finance law sections with three new ones to clarify definitions and reporting rules. It defines key terms like "candidate" (including when someone is deemed to seek office through contributions, expenditures, or announcements) and "committee," and establishes a process for individuals to disavow candidacy by filing a statement within five days (or one day if an election is imminent). The bill also specifies what constitutes "cash" and "check" for reporting purposes. This directly affects candidates, campaign committees, and individuals making political contributions in Missouri.
HB 2615 allows Missouri individual taxpayers to claim a state income tax credit for purchases of approved firearm safes or safety devices (like trigger locks), up to $500 per tax year. The credit directly affects residents who buy these items for personal use, offsetting their state income tax liability - up to the amount owed - without carryover to future years. The bill caps total annual credits at $500,000 and expires after six years unless renewed by the legislature. It defines "approved" items through joint rules by the Public Safety and Revenue departments, requiring receipts for verification.
HB 2614 modifies income eligibility rules for state-funded child care assistance in Missouri. It establishes a sliding fee scale based on family income and size, allowing families to pay reduced fees while receiving subsidies. Families earning above the annual income limit (determined yearly by budget) must pay the full cost of child care, ending their subsidy eligibility. The bill also waives fees for children with special needs and requires applicants to work 20+ hours weekly in licensed child care settings to exclude income from eligibility calculations. These changes directly affect low-income families using state child care programs.
HJR 145 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain disabled veterans' property from Missouri state taxes. It would grant tax exemptions for homestead property and personal belongings (like household goods and vehicles) owned by Missouri residents who are certified as having a 100% service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The amendment would require the state to replace lost tax revenue through a countywide tax on specific commercial property, ensuring local governments retain funding. This change would apply to veterans meeting strict criteria, including honorable military service and Missouri residency. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read first time).
This bill requires Missouri public schools receiving public funds to display the U.S. flag prominently during school hours, either outside the building or on a yard pole. It mandates that schools ensure the Pledge of Allegiance is recited at least once daily in at least one class per student, though no student may be compelled to participate. The bill permits classrooms to display only four specific flags: the U.S. flag, Missouri state flag, POW/MIA flag, or the school's own flag, banning all other flags. These requirements apply directly to all public schools in Missouri supported by public funding.
HB 1994 requires Missouri public school districts and charter schools to display the full text of the Ten Commandments in every instructional building where academic classes are regularly held, beginning January 1, 2027. The display must be at least 11x14 inches, feature the text as the central focus in a large readable font, and may be funded by school board funds or donated materials (though boards are not required to spend money). The bill defines the Ten Commandments text as the biblical passage from Exodus 20 and allows school boards to determine the display's specific format. This law applies to all public school buildings used for student instruction, not to religious instruction or curriculum.
HB 2594 would allow consumers to purchase hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin tablets over-the-counter without a prescription or consultation with a pharmacist or healthcare provider. The bill directly affects residents seeking these specific medications by removing current prescription requirements. Key provisions include amending state law to permit direct public access to both drugs and declaring the law an emergency act to take immediate effect upon passage. The bill is currently in early legislative stages, having been prefilled and read for the first time in 2026.
HB 2031, the "Children Harmed by AI Technology Act" (or "CHAT Act"), requires companies operating AI chatbots designed to simulate emotional or therapeutic interactions (called "companion AI chatbots") to verify users' ages and implement child safety measures. It directly affects minors under 18 and the companies providing these chatbots in Missouri. Key provisions include mandating age verification for all users, requiring parental consent and a linked parental account for minors, blocking minors' access to sexually explicit or suggestive content, and displaying a clear pop-up notification at the start of every chat and every 60 minutes to confirm users are interacting with AI, not a human. The law also sets requirements for protecting age data confidentiality and outlines enforcement by Missouri's attorney general.
