HB 2693 replaces Missouri's existing port authority rules with new provisions. It authorizes cities or counties near navigable waterways to form port authorities (recognized as state political subdivisions) after approval by the state highways and transportation commission. The commission must consider factors like population, economic feasibility, river traffic potential, and whether the proposed area overlaps with existing port authorities. Cities with 300,000+ residents bordering Kansas automatically qualify for approval, and new port authorities cannot overlap with existing ones.
HB 2643, the "Hope for Missouri Patients Act," creates a legal framework for patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating conditions to access individualized investigational treatments based on their unique genetic profile. It directly affects eligible patients who have exhausted all FDA-approved treatments, received a physician recommendation for personalized therapy, and provided written informed consent. Key provisions require facilities to comply with federal human subjects protections and define "individualized investigational treatment" as drugs or devices produced exclusively for a patient using their genomic data (excluding those derived from abortion or embryonic stem cells). The bill mandates specific consent documentation detailing treatment alternatives and potential outcomes, without authorizing new drugs or altering FDA approval processes.
HB 2714 changes how damages are calculated in wrongful death cases involving negligence. It establishes that a plaintiff’s recovery is reduced proportionally based on their own fault percentage (e.g., if the plaintiff is 30% at fault, they receive 70% of damages). If the plaintiff’s fault is 50% or more, they recover nothing. This applies to all wrongful death cases arising on or after August 28, 2026, replacing older rules that might have barred recovery entirely for partial fault. The law requires courts to instruct juries on these fault percentages and the 50% bar.
HB 2774 prohibits state or local laws, rules, or regulations that restrict the sale or use of specific items based solely on their fuel type. It directly affects owners and sellers of motor vehicles, common tools (like generators, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers), and farm equipment. The bill blocks restrictions targeting fuel sources - such as banning gasoline-powered equipment in certain areas - by preventing such rules from being enacted. This creates a statewide standard, ensuring these items cannot be regulated differently simply because they run on gasoline, diesel, or other fuels.
HB 2817, the Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act, creates a state grant program to fund clinical trials using ibogaine for treating opioid use disorder and other mental health conditions. Eligible entities (like hospitals or research institutions within the state) must partner with a consortium that has submitted an FDA application for ibogaine trials, demonstrate relevant research experience, and match state grant funds with non-state funding. The bill establishes two dedicated state funds: an "Ibogaine Study Fund" for grant awards and an "Intellectual Property Fund" to collect revenue from trial-related patents or treatments, which will support veteran and at-risk population programs. It requires quarterly progress reports from grant recipients and annual legislative updates, with grant applications to begin accepting before November 1, 2026.
HB 2902 bans the sale, possession, or use of devices that can bypass car key fobs (like "relay attack devices" or "key programming tools") except for law enforcement, auto dealers, insurers, and mechanics. It also creates a "Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Commission" to manage grants for local law enforcement to fund programs targeting vehicle theft, including multi-jurisdiction task forces, specialized training, and public awareness campaigns. The commission, composed of state officials and industry representatives, will approve funding for prevention, investigation, and prosecution of vehicle-related crimes. This directly affects car thieves (by restricting tools), law enforcement agencies (via grant access), and auto industry professionals (who retain limited device access).
HB 2944 modifies Missouri's senior citizen homestead tax credit to help eligible residents aged 62+ who own their primary residence. It defines the credit amount as the difference between a taxpayer's current property tax bill and their "initial credit year" tax bill, automatically applying this credit annually without requiring reapplication after initial qualification. Counties can choose to implement the credit through a local ordinance or voter referendum, and must apply it to reduce the taxpayer's annual property tax liability. The credit continues automatically until the senior moves or dies, with special rules for home improvements or property annexation affecting the initial tax calculation.
HB 2711 adds "machinery and equipment used to provide broadband communications service" as a new taxable subclass (subclass 8) under Missouri's tangible personal property tax rules. This specifically includes physical infrastructure like fiber cables, antennas, routers, switches, and related equipment owned by broadband providers. The bill modifies how these assets are assessed for property tax purposes, placing them in a separate category from other equipment. It directly affects broadband service providers who own this infrastructure, requiring them to pay taxes on it under the new classification. The change clarifies that such equipment is taxable as tangible personal property, distinct from other categories like solar panels or farm machinery.
HB 2765 establishes new licensing categories for hemp beverage businesses in Missouri, including manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. It defines key terms like "hemp beverage" (products containing hemp plant parts or hemp-derived compounds) and sets specific operational rules, such as requiring hemp retailers to hold an active alcohol license and prohibiting businesses from holding multiple license types (e.g., a manufacturer can’t also operate as a retailer). The bill also restricts import/export of unfinished hemp extract to U.S.-cultivated products and bans hemp businesses from holding marijuana facility licenses. These provisions directly affect companies seeking to legally produce, distribute, or sell hemp-based beverages within the state.
HB 3000 modifies Missouri's process for citizens to request audits of local government finances. It allows residents or property owners within a political subdivision (like a county or city) to petition for an audit by gathering signatures from a specific percentage of voters - ranging from 25% for small areas to 5% for large ones (with minimum signature counts). The political subdivision must pay the audit costs, which are managed through a new "Petition Audit Revolving Trust Fund" created by the bill. The bill also limits audits to once every three years per subdivision and requires petitions to include estimated costs.
HJR 169 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval before Missouri state or local districts can increase taxes, debt, or annual spending above certain thresholds. It directly affects state and local governments (excluding government-owned enterprises) by mandating public votes for new revenue measures and creating a refund process for illegally collected revenue. Key mechanisms include requiring districts to provide detailed spending data to voters before tax/debt votes, refunding illegally collected revenue with 10% annual interest, and suspending certain spending limits only during declared emergencies. The amendment takes effect January 1, 2027, and would override conflicting existing laws.
HB 2848 creates a new class C misdemeanor offense for intentionally harassing, intimidating, or threatening someone while hiding one's face with a mask or hood to cause reasonable fear of physical harm. It specifically applies when a person conceals their identity with a mask to threaten others, but includes exemptions for masks worn during holidays, occupational safety, religious practices, weather protection, or medical health reasons. The bill does not apply to behavior protected by the First Amendment and defines key terms like "harass" and "intimidate" in plain language. This law directly affects individuals who use face coverings to threaten others, while allowing most common mask usage to remain legal.
