This bill limits digital instruction to 45 minutes daily for elementary students in kindergarten through grade five and requires at least 70% of assignments to be completed using pen, paper, or handwriting practice. It mandates daily access to printed books, hands-on learning tools (like blocks or science materials) in core subjects, and explicit cursive handwriting instruction starting in grade two, with requirements to read/write legible cursive by grade five. Exemptions apply for students with IEPs or 504 plans, and schools must adopt written technology-use policies, report device usage, and verify compliance with paper-based and cursive requirements. The law takes effect for the 2027-28 school year.
HB 2473 requires real estate brokers in Missouri to keep client funds in separate bank escrow accounts, directly affecting brokers who handle client money. The bill mandates that brokers cannot mix client funds with personal money, except for up to $1,000 to cover account fees or interest accrued on the funds (which must be removed within 30 days). Brokers must also notify the state commission about their escrow accounts, maintain detailed records for inspection, and report disputed funds to the state treasurer within 365 days if ownership is contested. This replaces existing rules with clearer requirements for account separation and transparency.
HB 1788 modifies campaign finance rules by limiting anonymous contributions to $25 or less, requiring all contributors to provide their name and address, and mandating that any anonymous contribution over $25 be returned or escheated to the state. It sets a $50 limit on single cash expenditures and caps annual cash spending at $5,000 or 10% of total committee spending. The bill also requires disclosure of contributor and recipient details for all transactions, prohibits accepting out-of-state committee contributions without proper filing, and mandates clear "Paid for by" identification on campaign materials. These changes directly affect political committees, candidates, and contributors by increasing transparency and restricting anonymous funding.
This Missouri bill requires licensed child care facilities to implement nonrestrained safe sleep policies for children aged one and older (excluding weighted blankets over five pounds or for children under one year), provide safe rest options during non-nap times, and create documented care plans for children with special needs. These care plans must be reviewed annually with parents or guardians, facility staff, and the child's primary care provider. Staff directly caring for children with special needs must receive specific training on those needs, which counts toward required annual training hours. The law applies to all licensed facilities but excludes children under one year, who remain covered by existing regulations.
HB 1802 repeals and replaces Missouri election laws to allow political party representatives to designate election challengers who can observe voting and ballot counting. Specifically, party chairs may appoint registered voters in the jurisdiction as challengers for polling places (during all voting hours) and absentee ballot counting locations (during absentee voting and counting periods). Challengers must be verified as eligible by election authorities before the election, and may only raise concerns about potential election law violations to election judges or authorities. This bill directly affects political parties' ability to monitor election processes at polling sites and counting locations.
HB 1624 requires seed permit applicants and nursery dealers in Missouri to include an affidavit stating they will not knowingly sell certain nonnative invasive plants as part of their permit or registration application. The affidavit specifically prohibits the sale of climbing euonymus, Japanese honeysuckle, Sericea lespedeza, and Perilla mint after January 1, 2027, and burning bush or Callery pear after January 1, 2029. This requirement is mandatory for obtaining or renewing a seed permit or nursery dealer registration, directly affecting nurseries and seed sellers who must comply to operate legally. The bill does not impose direct penalties but ties permit approval to adherence with these plant sale restrictions.
HB 2384 prohibits counties and municipalities from requiring building practices that threaten affordability for residential and commercial properties. Specifically, it bans local governments from mandating sustainable, energy-efficient, or "green" building standards exceeding the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for single- or two-family homes, condos, townhouses, apartments, or commercial buildings. The bill also requires local governments to approve or deny building permit requests within 30 days, with automatic approval if no response is given, and sets specific safety conditions for single-exit residential buildings. This directly affects developers, builders, and homeowners seeking construction or renovation approvals, while limiting local code enforcement authority.
HB 1828 establishes the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund to provide matching funds for veterans memorials and museums. The Missouri Veterans Commission may distribute funds to counties or municipalities meeting specific population criteria (e.g., counties with 17,600-19,000 residents or cities in large-county areas) for restoring, renovating, or maintaining these facilities. Funding is limited to one-time matches of other project funds, with a $5 million maximum per memorial and a total $10 million cap for all memorial projects. All applications must be submitted before July 1, 2004, and the bill applies statewide to eligible local governments.
HB 1826 modifies Missouri school policies to allow students with asthma or anaphylaxis to self-administer prescribed epinephrine. The bill requires schools to authorize students to carry and use their own medication if a physician prescribes it, the student demonstrates proper use, a written treatment plan is approved, and parents sign a liability acknowledgment form (excluding negligence claims). Schools must keep emergency medication accessible and maintain required documentation on file. It also permits school nurses to maintain an emergency supply of epinephrine devices for student use during health crises.
HB 1855 requires Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services to add alpha-gal syndrome and Lyme disease to its list of noncommunicable diseases needing mandatory reporting. Healthcare providers must report most cases within seven days of a positive lab result, while labs must report alpha-gal syndrome cases using specific IgE test thresholds (≥0.1 IU/mL). The department must verify cases through random sampling and submit annual reports to the CDC on these diseases. This directly affects healthcare providers, laboratories, and public health officials responsible for disease surveillance in Missouri.
HB 1945 modifies Missouri's health care payment system for clinical pathology services under MO HealthNet (the state's Medicaid program). It requires MO HealthNet to pay hospital-based pathologists 30% of Medicare's rate for the "professional component" of their services (interpretation and diagnosis), with payments going directly to the hospital if the pathologist is employed there, or to the third-party provider if not. This affects hospitals, pathologists, and MO HealthNet patients by standardizing reimbursement for these diagnostic services. The bill also adds licensing requirements for drug distributors (section 338.333), but the primary focus is on pathology billing changes.
HB 1791 establishes specific deadlines for local governments to process building permit applications based on permit type and project size. For example, residential permits under 7,500 sq. ft. (Level 1) must be approved within 30 business days, while larger projects (Level 2-4) have 60-day deadlines. If local governments miss these deadlines, they must reduce the permit fee by 10% per business day, with exceptions for applicant-caused delays or written extensions. The bill also requires local governments to notify applicants within 5 days if more information is needed, or the application is automatically accepted. This directly affects homeowners, contractors, and local governments handling construction permits.
