HB 2706 directs Missouri's Department of Social Services to request a USDA waiver enabling the state to modify its SNAP program. The waiver would prioritize purchases of healthy, whole foods like fresh produce, lean proteins, dairy, whole grains, and legumes while discouraging highly processed foods and those high in added sugar. It also requires exploring strategies to incentivize SNAP participants to buy Missouri-grown fruits, vegetables, and dairy through existing state programs. This bill affects Missouri SNAP recipients and aims to reshape food purchasing within the federal program, pending USDA approval.
This bill modifies Missouri's regulations for selling raw milk, raw milk products, and cream. It requires that retail raw milk or cream sold in grocery stores or farmers markets must carry a clear health warning label stating it has not been pasteurized and may contain harmful bacteria. Dairy farms selling these products must also test their herds annually for tuberculosis and brucellosis to ensure they are disease-free. The bill maintains that pasteurized milk and milk products remain the standard for sale to final consumers, restaurants, and grocery stores, with the raw milk exception limited to direct retail sales and final consumer purchases.
HB 2839 requires Missouri high schools to offer a course on U.S. and Missouri government, electoral processes, and American history (including specific coverage of the racial equality movement) to all students in grades 9-12. Students must pass a statewide exam on the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions, American history, and civics to graduate, with limited exemptions for transfer students from other states. School districts must annually nominate students for recognition based on academic achievement and community service related to government and citizenship. The requirements do not apply to foreign exchange students.
HB 2772 establishes the "Youth Workforce Development Program" to provide job training, certifications, and life skills to at-risk youth aged 12-21 in counties with over 1 million residents or cities outside counties. The program, administered by the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, offers vocational training, high school diplomas, internships with local businesses, and mental health support - specifically requiring juvenile detention facilities to provide these services to youth held there. A dedicated state fund finances the program, covering costs like transportation, childcare, mental health services, and internship stipends, with annual reports tracking participant employment rates and recidivism. The program targets youth involved in juvenile justice, those with school suspensions, homelessness, or other risk factors, aiming to improve workforce readiness and reduce future system involvement.
HB 2705 modifies Missouri's tax treatment of qualified tuition programs (like 529 college savings plans). It exempts money in these plans from state income tax and allows taxpayers to deduct up to $8,000 annually (or $16,000 for joint filers) from their Missouri adjusted gross income for contributions. Funds withdrawn for non-education purposes or not used within required timeframes must be added back to taxable income. This bill directly affects Missouri residents using 529 plans for education savings by providing state tax benefits for contributions and growth.
This bill creates a legal presumption that a statement made during a police custodial interview is involuntary if the officer intentionally used false information to obtain it. The presumption can be overturned only if prosecutors provide clear and convincing evidence that the statement was voluntary despite the officer's deception. Officers who deliberately use false information during such interviews face disciplinary action under existing law. The law directly affects law enforcement officers conducting custodial interrogations and individuals in police custody during questioning.
HB 2861 designates July 16th each year as "Atomic Veterans Day" in Missouri. The bill specifically honors veterans who were exposed to ionizing radiation during nuclear testing, served in military occupation forces near Hiroshima or Nagasaki before 1946, or were prisoners of war in those areas. It encourages Missouri citizens to participate in events recognizing these veterans' unique contributions. This is a commemorative designation with no new funding or policy changes.
HB 2860 requires school boards to publicly disclose financial transactions over $500 involving board members, employees, or their close family members, excluding routine payments like taxes. It also mandates written disclosures from school superintendents and key staff about outside business interests, including employer names and ownership stakes. For special education disputes, the bill shifts the burden of proof to school districts in due process hearings under federal law and restricts hearing commissioners from having recent ties to school districts or special education advocacy. These provisions directly affect school boards, administrators, and parents of students with disabilities. The bill aims to increase transparency in school district finances and ensure impartiality in special education decision-making.
HB 2676 ensures inmates receive credit for all time spent in custody after an offense occurred but before their sentence began, including retroactive credit for those held before August 28, 2023. It requires sheriffs and custodial officers to certify pre-sentence custody time, which must be applied toward the sentence regardless of when the offense happened. The bill also clarifies that time served under a vacated sentence counts toward a new sentence and that escapes interrupt both the sentence and credit calculation. This directly affects all individuals sentenced to imprisonment in the state, ensuring they receive full credit for pre-sentence detention. The law mandates that credit cannot exceed the actual time spent in custody prior to sentencing.
HB 2847 changes how certain cities can adjust zoning rules. It requires a two-thirds vote of a city council to approve zoning changes if 30% of landowners protest (covering either the affected land area or a 185-foot buffer zone). The bill also bans cities from allowing public referendums or votes to challenge zoning changes. This applies only to home rule cities located in counties with 260,000-300,000 residents.
HB 2712 modifies state pesticide regulations by allowing pesticides registered under federal law (specifically EPA approval under FIFRA) with cancer warning labels to satisfy the state's separate cancer warning label requirements. This directly affects pesticide manufacturers and retailers who must display cancer warnings on product labels. The bill changes the rule so that federal EPA classifications for cancer risk - already required on product labels - fulfill the state’s labeling obligation, eliminating the need for duplicate warnings. It does not change manufacturers’ liability for product safety under state law.
HB 2768 imposes a 2% sales tax on retail purchases of industrial hemp-derived consumable products (like edibles or beverages containing ≤0.3% delta-9 THC) starting in 2027. It requires retailers to collect this tax at the point of sale, display it separately on receipts, and remit it to the state. The revenue will fund the hemp business program, directly affecting retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of these products while ensuring consumers pay the tax at checkout. The bill also defines key terms like "consumable product" and "hemp-derived cannabinoid" to clarify regulatory scope.
