HB 2807 requires Missouri electric utilities to source increasing percentages of electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar, starting at 2% in 2011 and rising to 15% by 2025, with at least 2% specifically from solar. It creates an exemption for large commercial customers (over 80MW load) who purchase renewable energy and retire certificates, allowing them to avoid utility compliance costs. The bill establishes rules for tracking renewable energy certificates (RECs) and limits annual rate increases from compliance costs to 1%. Utilities must meet these requirements for all power sold to Missouri consumers, including purchased electricity.
HB 2906 establishes a process for the Office of Administration to create "master agreements" with architecture, engineering, and land-surveying firms for ongoing state projects. These agreements allow the state to hire firms for multiple projects without separate bidding for each, with each project costing no more than $100,000 and the total annual spending under an agreement capped at $1 million. The process requires a public request for qualifications, evaluation based on firm experience and past performance, and limits agreements to two years. This primarily affects the Office of Administration's Division of Facilities Management and the firms providing these services.
HB 2014 is a fiscal appropriations bill that allocates state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directs $20 million to the Special Education Program, $35.1 million to Early Childhood Special Education, $10.4 million for school safety and career readiness initiatives, and $7.1 million for highway maintenance under the Department of Transportation. The bill specifies exact funding sources (like General Revenue Fund and Federal Funds) for each program but does not create new policies or change existing laws.
SCR 11 - This concurrent resolution urges the Missouri Congressional delegation to uphold the principles of federalism with regard to the ability of states to govern their election processes and enact policies regarding campaign finance and election influence. JIM ERTLE
SB 1587 would add one associate circuit judge position to the 20th Judicial District in Franklin County, Ohio. This change directly affects the Franklin County court system by increasing judicial staffing capacity. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee after its first reading, with no further action taken yet. This is a procedural adjustment to court staffing, not a substantive policy change.
HB 3086 adds one new associate circuit judge position specifically for Miller County within the existing twenty-sixth judicial circuit. This judge will be appointed by the governor to serve until January 1, 2029, with an election scheduled for 2028, and is not counted toward the standard formula for associate judges per county. The bill directly affects Miller County residents by creating a dedicated judicial position for their local court. It is a procedural change to judicial staffing, not a policy affecting laws or regulations.
HB 3072 modifies workers' compensation benefits for injured workers by updating weekly payment formulas based on injury dates. It sets specific percentage rates (66.67% of average weekly earnings) with caps ranging from 70% to 105% of the state's average weekly wage, depending on when the injury occurred. The bill also establishes a $40 weekly minimum, clarifies that death benefits for permanent total disability do not pass to dependents, and creates special provisions for toxic exposure cases - requiring employers to pay up to 200 weeks of benefits for non-mesothelioma diseases and 312 weeks for mesothelioma (with employer election options until 2038). These changes directly affect workers injured on the job and their dependents in cases of permanent disability or death.
HB 3147, the "Kratom Consumer Protection Act," regulates the sale of kratom products in Missouri. It requires sellers (including stores, restaurants, and manufacturers) to label products with accurate claims and disclose specific compound levels, bans sales to minors under 18, and prohibits products adulterated with harmful substances or containing synthetic alkaloids or excessive levels of certain natural compounds (like 7-hydroxymitragynine above 2%). Violations may result in fines up to $1,000 for labeling issues or misdemeanor charges for other breaches. The bill preempts local regulations on kratom, making state rules the sole authority for this product category.
HB 3120 requires the county treasurer's signature to be the only authorized signature on bank accounts holding county funds. It prohibits other county officials or employees from being listed as signers on these accounts, while allowing other county officers to maintain separate accounts for their specific duties under existing law. The bill also clarifies that county commissions retain their authority to request financial records from the treasurer. This procedural change directly affects county treasurers and depositaries managing county finances.
HB 3037 modifies Missouri's tax credit program for donations to scholarship organizations, allowing taxpayers to claim a 100% credit for contributions (up to 50% of their state tax liability) toward scholarships. The bill sets a $75 million annual cap on total credits, adjusted yearly based on state education funding changes, with unused credits carryable forward for up to four years. Donors cannot designate which student receives a scholarship, and the program activates only when transportation funding meets specific thresholds tied to 2021 levels. This affects taxpayers donating to educational assistance organizations seeking to fund student scholarships through state tax incentives.
HB 2926 grants private contractors, subcontractors, and their employees working under Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) contracts the same legal immunity from negligence lawsuits as government entities. This protection applies to work performed within MoDOT-approved plans and specifications, starting from the official notice to proceed and continuing until MoDOT formally accepts the completed project. The bill specifically extends this immunity to cover claims arising from their work, subject to existing limitations on liability awards. It directly affects contractors hired for MoDOT projects by shielding them from tort claims related to their work under approved contracts.
HB 2844 bans the use of paraquat (a herbicide) in the state starting January 1, 2027, directly affecting farmers, agricultural businesses, and distributors who currently use or sell it. The bill requires all such entities to submit detailed usage reports by December 31, 2026, including quantities, locations, and crop types, with the department publishing these reports publicly by March 2027. It allows limited paraquat use only for approved research under strict safety protocols, enforced by the Department of Agriculture. Violations carry fines up to $500 per offense, with enforcement handled by the department and attorney general.
