HB 1833 allows active Missouri state employees eligible for the consolidated health care plan to opt out of state coverage and receive an annual stipend instead. Employees must provide proof of separate health insurance coverage and make the election within 31 days of hire or during designated open enrollment periods. The stipend equals 50% of the state’s contribution toward the employee’s health coverage (not including dependents), is taxable, and applies only to medical coverage (not dental/vision). This policy change directly affects state employees enrolled in the health plan who choose this alternative.
HB 2570 requires health insurers and health benefit plans (including MO HealthNet and Medicaid managed care) to pay for anesthesia services based on defined "anesthesia time" units without imposing time limits or restricting how that time is calculated. The bill prohibits insurers from setting arbitrary time caps on anesthesia payment or excluding all anesthesia time when determining reimbursement. It specifically affects anesthesia providers (like anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists) by mandating payment based on standardized time units and prevailing medical billing standards. The law passed as an emergency measure to ensure timely payment for these medically necessary services.
HB 3208 modifies the composition of boards of trustees for Missouri public school retirement systems. It specifies that the 13-member board must include: four members appointed by school boards (with staggered terms), four active members elected by the retirement system (with limits of two teachers and two nonteachers), two retired members elected by retirees (with one teacher and one nonteacher), one active school administrator elected by active members, and two members appointed by the Missouri Charter Public School Association (requiring at least one teacher). The bill also sets rules for filling vacancies, establishes voting procedures, and outlines trustee responsibilities like taking oaths and reimbursing expenses. This bill directly affects the governance structure of public school retirement systems in Missouri.
HB 3509 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists and counselors) from performing conversion therapy on minors. The bill defines conversion therapy as any practice seeking to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, excluding supportive counseling that accepts a minor’s identity or addresses unsafe behaviors without attempting change. This prohibition is added as a specific reason for disciplinary action against license holders under the state’s licensing regulations. The law directly affects minors receiving mental health services and licensed practitioners who may face penalties for violating this provision.
HB 2863 creates a new court process allowing trust beneficiaries (interested persons) to seek a preliminary ruling before challenging a trust. It lets them file a verified petition asking if their claim would trigger a "no-contest clause" (which could cause loss of trust assets). The court must then determine this based on the trust document and verified facts, before the beneficiary proceeds with their claim. The bill specifically lists 11 situations where no-contest clauses cannot be enforced, such as challenging trustee accounting or jurisdiction. This directly affects beneficiaries who might otherwise risk forfeiting trust assets by contesting terms.
HB 2940 protects public employees in Missouri who serve in the National Guard or military reserves by guaranteeing they can take leave for military duty without losing their job, pay, seniority, or benefits. It specifically allows up to 120 hours (38 workdays) per federal fiscal year for federal military service, while providing full leave protections for state duty under the governor's call. The bill requires employees to submit military orders to their employer as proof of duty and prohibits employers from discriminating against or firing employees for military service. Volunteer firefighters receive all protections except those related to monetary compensation.
HB 2999 clarifies the scope of practice for optometrists in Missouri by defining "practice of optometry" to include specific examinations, diagnoses, treatments, and procedures like foreign body removal, lens fitting, and low vision care. It explicitly prohibits optometrists from performing surgery or using lasers for vision correction or treating eye diseases. The bill directly affects Missouri optometrists by defining their permitted activities and setting clear boundaries on what they cannot do. This update replaces outdated language in Missouri law to better reflect current optometric practice standards.
HB 2776 creates a new pathway for teachers holding temporary teaching certificates in Missouri to earn full certification. It requires completing an approved 18-hour online training program (developed by the state or eligible charitable organizations) and either passing a teaching exam or meeting specific evaluation criteria through school district assessments. This change directly affects current temporary certificate holders seeking to teach in Missouri public schools, streamlining their transition to full certification without requiring additional degree programs. The bill also updates existing certification rules but focuses on simplifying the process for temporary certificate holders to qualify for permanent teaching roles.
HB 2889 changes the legal definition of "delivery of a controlled substance causing death" to make it a class A felony. It applies when someone delivers or distributes a Schedule I or II controlled substance (like opioids or stimulants) and a death results, regardless of whether the user contributed to their own death or consented to the substance. The bill removes the defense that the user's actions caused their death, holding distributors fully accountable. This directly affects drug distributors who cause fatal overdoses through their actions.
HJR 174 proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow Missouri to eliminate its individual income tax by 2031 if specific revenue targets are met, while requiring the state to offset any revenue lost from this change. It prohibits expanding sales taxes to new services beyond those taxed in 2015 and mandates that local governments reduce other taxes (like property or sales taxes) if they expand the sales tax base to fund income tax elimination. The amendment also requires the state to adjust sales tax rates to maintain historical revenue levels after 2028 and exempts certain tax increases from revenue caps. This is a proposed amendment requiring voter approval, not current law, and does not affect existing tax debts or taxes on businesses, trusts, or estates.
HB 2119 modifies Missouri's "Property Assessment Clean Energy Act" to establish a program financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements for non-residential properties. It creates "clean energy development boards" (formed by municipalities) that can offer long-term property assessments (up to 30 years) to fund projects like solar installations or building retrofits, with these assessments recorded as liens on the property. The bill excludes residential properties, requires annual reporting to municipalities and the Department of Natural Resources, and defines key terms like "energy efficiency improvement" (e.g., insulation, efficient lighting) and "renewable energy improvement" (e.g., solar, wind systems). These boards gain authority to issue bonds, collect fees, and administer the financing program under state oversight.
SB 961 modifies Missouri's Historic Preservation Tax Credit by increasing the credit rate to 35% for rehabilitation of eligible historic properties in qualifying counties or for historic schools/theaters, up from 25% for standard projects. It requires rehabilitation costs to exceed 50% of a property’s value and aligns with federal Secretary of the Interior standards. The bill also establishes a $90 million annual cap on tax credits, with $30 million specifically reserved for projects in qualified census tracts (areas with high poverty rates). These changes aim to incentivize historic preservation in rural and economically disadvantaged communities while streamlining the credit application process under the "Missouri Historic, Rural Revitalization, and Regulatory Streamlining Act." The provisions take effect for projects beginning July 1, 2026.
