This bill amends Missouri's charter school laws by restricting where charter schools can operate and expanding who can sponsor them. It limits charter schools to specific districts (e.g., unaccredited districts, districts with high populations, or those with three years of provisional accreditation) and prohibits districts with over 1,550 students from allowing more than 35% of enrollment in charter schools. New sponsors include public/private colleges, community colleges, and nonprofits, while banning sponsors from charging fees for charter applications. The bill also clarifies accreditation transitions for districts and ensures charter schools can continue operating under existing sponsorships when districts improve their accreditation status.
HB 3449 modifies how family court commissioners are appointed in four specific judicial circuits (7th, 11th, 13th, and 31st). It allows these circuits to appoint additional "state-paid" commissioners without requiring reimbursement, but only up to the number of such commissioners in place as of specific historical dates (e.g., 2027 for the 7th Circuit). Commissioners must meet circuit judge qualifications and receive associate circuit judge-level pay and benefits. This directly affects family court operations in those circuits by changing funding mechanisms for commissioner appointments.
HB 3495 bans the use of seclusion to confine students in public schools, charter schools, and publicly contracted private providers, except when there is imminent danger of physical harm to self or others. The bill prohibits specific restraint techniques that obstruct breathing, cause injury, restrict communication, or endanger students' health. Schools must adopt written policies by July 2022 requiring staff training, incident documentation, and immediate removal from seclusion once the danger passes. These policies must define prohibited techniques and align with safety standards for all students, including those with disabilities. The law aims to prevent harmful confinement practices while maintaining safety protocols for emergencies.
HB 3452 requires health insurance plans sold in the state to cover specific preventative health services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for evidence-based services rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended immunizations, and preventative care outlined in Health Resources and Services Administration guidelines. The law allows limited exceptions, such as applying high-deductible plan requirements to certain services or imposing cost-sharing for out-of-network providers. This directly affects health insurers and policyholders by ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for these recommended preventative services.
HB 3478 updates notarization rules to allow remote document signing via compliant communication technology (like video calls), instead of requiring physical presence. It permits individuals to appear "personally" before a notary through two methods: being in the same physical location or using approved digital communication tools. Notaries must document the method used on the form, and the rule applies to most legal documents but excludes real estate transfers via wills. This change directly affects notaries and people signing documents like powers of attorney or contracts. The bill modifies existing notarization procedures to modernize remote verification processes.
HB 3481 modifies Missouri's Supreme Court Rule 33.01 to clarify conditions for releasing defendants before trial in criminal cases. It requires courts to prioritize non-monetary conditions (like reporting or electronic monitoring) over monetary bail whenever possible, and prohibits setting bail amounts higher than necessary to ensure court appearances or community safety. The bill also mandates courts to consider a defendant's ability to pay when imposing monetary conditions and to waive costs for indigent defendants. This directly affects people charged with bailable offenses who may face pretrial detention or restrictive release terms. The law aims to reduce unnecessary pretrial incarceration while maintaining public safety.
HB 3459, known as "Preston's Law," requires law enforcement officers to interact with families of homicide victims using respect, empathy, and trauma-informed communication during investigations. The bill mandates that officers avoid victim-blaming or judgmental remarks, protect family privacy, and provide specific information within set timeframes - such as family verification within 24 hours, autopsy reports within 9-12 months, and victim resources within 48 hours. It also establishes annual training for officers on cultural sensitivity and family engagement, and creates a complaint process with the POST commission for violations, which may result in retraining or disciplinary action. The law directly affects law enforcement personnel conducting homicides and the families of homicide victims.
HB 3482 would change eligibility rules for Missouri's Access Missouri financial aid program. It requires applicants to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, Missouri residents, and enrolled full-time at approved schools, while prohibiting aid for theology/divinity degree programs. The bill also disqualifies students convicted of certain crimes (matching federal student aid rules) and limits total aid to 10 semesters or 15 quarters, with renewal requiring a 2.5 GPA. These changes would directly affect Missouri students applying for or renewing this state-funded aid. The bill is pending in the House as of its February 2026 introduction.
HB 3493 establishes Missouri's centralized "Missouri Voter Registration System" as the official statewide voter list, requiring unique identifiers for all registered voters and regular updates to remove ineligible voters. The bill mandates that local election authorities remove deceased voters based on monthly death certificate reports from the state, and verifies citizenship through state driver's license records, Social Security data, and federal databases (including the SAVE program), with written notice and 30 days for voters to respond before removal. It prohibits using voter registration data for commercial purposes (allowing only election-related use at reasonable fees) and requires coordination between election officials and state agencies to maintain accurate records. This directly affects all Missouri registered voters and election authorities responsible for maintaining voter rolls.
HB 3503 would replace the existing sales tax on food with a new "business enterprise tax" applied to for-profit businesses operating in the state. The tax would be calculated based on a business's "enterprise value tax base," which includes compensation paid, interest, and dividends. This new tax is designed to offset the revenue loss from removing the food sales tax, ensuring no net reduction in state tax revenue. The bill applies to most businesses (excluding certain nonprofits, insurance companies, and investment trusts) but does not affect individual consumers directly.
HB 3502 designates the Kansas City Current soccer team as Missouri's official state soccer team. This ceremonial bill has no legal, financial, or regulatory impact on residents, state operations, or other entities. It simply adds a symbolic recognition to state statutes without creating new obligations or altering existing laws. The bill is purely honorific and does not affect policy or funding.
HB 3507 requires all construction workers performing on-site labor for state government projects to be direct employees of the contracting company (W-2 employees), not independent contractors. This directly affects state contractors and construction firms bidding on government projects, mandating they hire workers as employees rather than using independent contractors for roles like laborers, mechanics, or operators. The bill prohibits contractors from using independent contractors for any on-site construction work covered by state contracts. The bill was introduced on February 26, 2026, and is currently in early committee stages.
