This bill reduces the percentage of tangible personal property used to calculate property taxes in Missouri over a three-year period, affecting business owners and other individuals who own taxable personal assets. Starting in 2026, the assessment rate for tangible personal property will decrease by approximately 5.56% each year, dropping from 33.33% in 2025 to 18% for 2028 and beyond. The legislation also establishes specific, lower assessment rates for certain categories of property, including agricultural items, historic vehicles, and pollution control equipment. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for property assessment, including requirements for assessors to create assessment maintenance plans and rules for computer-assisted valuation methods.
HB 835 adds a new exemption for in-home licensed day care providers, allowing them to care for up to two children who are related (within the third degree of kinship) to the provider without counting those children toward their licensed capacity limit. This directly affects small in-home day care operators who already hold a license but want to include family members in their care. The bill requires all unlicensed facilities to disclose their unlicensed status to parents and obtain written acknowledgment, while maintaining existing exemptions for family care (up to six children), religious programs, and other specific settings. It does not change licensing requirements for most facilities but clarifies how related children can be counted in licensed in-home care.
HB 478 creates a temporary two-year license for professionals with at least three years of work experience in a profession that requires a license in Missouri but not in the state where they worked. Applicants must pass required exams (including state-specific law tests if needed), provide U.S. citizenship proof, and have no disciplinary history in other states. The license expires after two years, requiring holders to apply for a permanent license through standard channels. It excludes professions covered by licensing compacts (like nursing), electrical contractors, federal-regulated roles, and assistant physicians, and explicitly states the temporary license cannot be used for reciprocity in other states.
HB 643 creates a new "lakefront entertainment district" designation for areas near lakes with at least 1,000 miles of shoreline, specifically targeting cities with 1,900-7,000 residents and matching county populations. It allows special licenses for alcohol sales from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily (until 1:30 a.m. Sundays) within these districts, requiring a $300 annual license fee per district. Businesses must serve alcohol only in containers marked with their unique logo, and all alcohol consumption must stay within district boundaries - no outside carry-out is permitted. The bill also makes district license holders jointly liable for violations at licensed venues, portable bars, and common areas, while requiring local governments to approve districts via ordinance. The bill is pending further action after passing a committee vote in April 2025.
HB 816 modifies property tax assessment rules for motor vehicles and certain other assets. It specifically lowers the tax assessment rate to 5% for historic motor vehicles (registered under §301.131) and qualifying aircraft (25+ years old, noncommercial, <200 annual hours). This change directly affects owners of these vehicles by reducing their property tax burden. The bill also requires assessors to provide detailed evidence, such as comparable sales data, when using computer-assisted valuation methods for property. These adjustments aim to align tax assessments with specific property classifications under Missouri law.
HB 267 creates a program allowing Missouri public school teachers to earn salary credit through "certified teacher externships" at local businesses. Teachers completing these externships - structured with business observation and interaction - will have them counted as equivalent to graduate-level course credits for salary increases, as determined by state departments of education and economic development. School districts must apply published equivalency rules to compensate teachers who complete certified externships. The program expires in 2024 unless reauthorized by the legislature.
HB 58 establishes a process for temporarily suspending the licenses of massage therapists and chiropractors under emergency conditions. This applies when a license holder faces a pending criminal charge related to their work and the licensing board has reasonable cause to believe public health, safety, or welfare is at immediate risk. The board must submit evidence to an administrative hearing commission, which must review the request within five days and issue an order. A hearing must occur within 45 days to determine if the suspension continues, with the option to lift it if no disciplinary cause is found.
HB 1049 allows banks and credit unions to voluntarily create programs enabling customers to designate trusted contacts - adults who can be contacted during emergencies, suspected fraud, or when a customer becomes unresponsive. It establishes clear procedures for institutions to implement these programs, including setting transaction limits and account access for trusted contacts, while providing liability protection for both the institution and the trusted contact acting in good faith. Customers retain full control to add or remove trusted contacts at any time, with institutions required to verify such changes. The bill directly affects bank and credit union customers seeking added security and emergency access options, without mandating participation from financial institutions.
HB 183 standardizes course transfers between Missouri's public community colleges and four-year universities. It requires the state coordinating board to develop a common 42-credit core curriculum (effective 2018) and specific 60-credit transfer pathways for five degree programs (business, education, psychology, nursing, biology) by 2027. Public institutions must adopt these standardized course numbering systems, allowing students who complete the full 42- or 60-credit blocks to transfer all courses without repeating core requirements. Students transferring without completing the full block receive credit for completed courses but may need additional coursework to meet the receiving institution's requirements. The bill directly affects all Missouri public higher education institutions and students transferring between them.
HB 780 changes how Missouri counties assess property taxes on residential real estate. It requires assessors to value residential properties at 33.3% of their true market value annually, with new assessments set every other year (odd-numbered years) and applied for two years. The bill also creates a process for counties to submit two-year assessment plans for approval and includes a specific provision reducing valuations for airport-related property improvements funded by non-government parties. This directly affects homeowners and property owners across all Missouri counties, including St. Louis.
HB 408 requires Missouri school districts to adopt written policies banning student use of cell phones, smartwatches, and other connected devices during regular class time starting in the 2025-26 school year. The policy must prohibit devices in classrooms unless authorized by a principal, require students to turn off and store devices during instruction, and include exceptions for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or individualized health care plans. It also mandates guidelines for device use during non-instructional activities like field trips. The law directly affects all K-12 public school students and school districts across Missouri.
The bill title claims to address speech-language pathologist licensure, but the provided text actually governs embalmer licensing requirements for funeral services in Missouri. It repeals and replaces sections related to funeral service education, requiring applicants to complete an accredited program, pass national and state exams, and complete supervised embalming practice (including 25 bodies under direct supervision for 12 months). Key provisions include age/education requirements, exam standards, and strict supervision rules during apprenticeship. The bill does not affect speech-language pathologists; it directly impacts individuals seeking embalmer licensure in Missouri. (Note: The title appears inconsistent with the bill's actual content based on the provided text.)
