HB 2869 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Homestead Tax Credit Act," allowing Missouri counties to offer a property tax credit for eligible disabled veterans who own their primary residence. The credit covers up to 100% of real property taxes on a homestead valued at $500,000 or less, for veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Counties must vote to adopt the program (opt-in), and veterans must own the home as their primary residence (not exceeding five acres) to qualify. The credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, and does not apply if the veteran rents part of the property or qualifies for other tax relief.
HB 2710 requires all Missouri public schools and districts to publish standardized annual report cards showing student performance, finances, and staff data in an accessible format. It establishes a new A-F rating system based on student achievement (40% for elementary/middle schools, 25% for high schools), academic growth metrics (30% for elementary/middle, 25% for high schools), and high school "Success Ready Graduate" measures (15% for high schools). Top-performing schools in the top 5% for achievement or growth will receive $100 per student in performance-based funding starting in 2026-27, while those in the top 10% but not top 5% get $50 per student. The bill directly affects every public school, district, and charter school by linking their ratings and funding eligibility to specific student outcome metrics.
HB 2872 requires Missouri teacher preparation programs to train future educators in evidence-based reading instruction methods, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. It prohibits the use of the "three-cueing system" in coursework and mandates that programs align with specific literacy components. The bill establishes a new Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) to advise on teacher training and creates an Office of Literacy within the state education department. It also funds school districts through a new "Evidence-based Reading Instruction Program Fund" for tutoring, teacher training, and evidence-based reading materials, with compliance reviews starting in 2027. This directly affects teacher training institutions, new educators, and public school districts.
HB 2884 modifies how members are appointed to the St. Louis Police Retirement System Board of Trustees. It changes the mayor’s appointment process to require one one-year term and one two-year term starting October 2026 (then two-year terms for all), while prohibiting the mayor from appointing the police chief or public safety director. The bill also specifies that active police officers elect three board members (serving three-year terms with staggered start dates), and retired system members elect two additional members (with staggered terms). It includes a provision granting active elected trustees up to 30 days of paid travel time annually to attend board meetings. The changes primarily affect the composition and appointment rules of the retirement system’s governing board.
HB 3004 prohibits businesses from advertising or selling products as made with specific wood species (like oak or maple) if the product's visible wood surface isn't actually that wood. It directly affects retailers and manufacturers selling wood products, requiring their decorative surfaces to match advertised wood types. The bill gives the Department of Agriculture authority to create rules for enforcement, subject to existing state regulatory procedures. This aims to prevent misleading marketing by ensuring wood product claims accurately reflect the material used.
HB 2898 modifies Missouri law governing how counties with land bank agencies handle tax-delinquent properties. It establishes new procedures for land bank agencies to acquire properties through tax sales after two years of unpaid taxes, replacing older rules. Key changes include restricting who can bid (barring current tax delinquents, land bank employees, and certain officials), requiring non-resident bidders to appoint a Missouri agent, and allowing counties to opt into this process. The bill directly affects counties operating land banks, potential property buyers, and tax collectors managing these sales. It focuses on streamlining land bank acquisitions while adding safeguards to prevent conflicts of interest in the bidding process.
HB 2742 increases penalties for drivers who fail to stop for a school bus by adding 5 points to their license for this violation. It also allows school districts to install cameras on school buses to detect such failures, but only when the bus is actively loading or unloading students (stop arm extended and lights activated). School districts must approve camera use through a board vote, and footage can only be used as evidence for the violation - unrelated footage cannot be retained. The bill does not require districts to install cameras, only offers this option as a safety tool.
HB 3146 updates rules for how ballot measures are summarized for voters. It limits the official summary statement to 100 words and the fiscal note summary to 50 words, requiring both to be neutral and fact-based without bias. The bill specifies that the secretary of state prepares summaries if the legislature doesn’t provide them, and the attorney general must approve the legal content. These changes apply to all statewide ballot measures, including constitutional amendments and statutory initiatives, aiming to ensure clarity and fairness in voter information.
HB 3068 revises Missouri's criminal history record system by replacing outdated sections with new provisions governing data collection and submission. It requires law enforcement agencies to submit fingerprints, photographs, and biometric data (like facial recognition) for certain arrests - including juveniles under 17 - to the state highway patrol's central repository, with specific rules for juvenile records. The bill also updates definitions for terms like "unique biometric identification" and mandates standardized data formats for reporting to ensure accurate statewide criminal history records. These changes primarily affect police departments, courts, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which manages the central repository for criminal justice data. The bill does not alter sex offender registration terms but updates the underlying system that supports registry administration.
HB 2740 creates a governance board at the University of Missouri to oversee and report on research using radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating rare pediatric diseases (affecting fewer than 200,000 children under 18 in the U.S.). The board, including university medical representatives, legislative appointees, a patient advocate, and an industry partner, must submit annual public reports to Missouri lawmakers by December 31 each year detailing completed research projects, outcomes, funding used, and legislative recommendations. This bill directly affects the University of Missouri system, patient advocates, and the Missouri legislature through its reporting requirements. The board’s duties expire on June 30, 2030.
HB 2925 modifies how areas outside a municipality can join a city's park system through a voter-approved property tax. It requires property owners outside a city to gather signatures from 5% of qualified voters in their area, get municipal approval, and then hold a public vote on a park tax rate matching city residents' rate. If approved, the area joins the park system with proportional representation on the park board based on population, and residents gain equal access to city park facilities. The bill directly affects property owners outside municipal boundaries seeking park services and the city park boards managing those systems.
HB 2928 modifies requirements for firearms safety instructors who issue certificates needed for Missouri concealed carry permits. It specifies that training must cover 10 safety topics (including marksmanship, safe storage, and firearm laws) and require at least 8 hours of instruction, including live-fire tests where applicants must hit targets with 15+ rounds. The bill requires instructors to maintain student records for four years, verify competency during live-fire exercises, and submit to a statewide database managed by the Missouri sheriff methamphetamine relief taskforce for annual $10 registration. This directly affects applicants seeking carry permits and qualified firearms safety instructors who must meet new standards to issue valid training certificates.
