HB 2757 expands pharmacists' scope of practice in Missouri by allowing licensed pharmacists with special certification to develop medication therapy management plans under written protocols from physicians. It permits pharmacists to administer certain vaccines (excluding cholera, monkeypox, and others) and provide HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, all while requiring adherence to CDC guidelines and physician protocols. This directly affects pharmacists (who must complete additional training), physicians collaborating with them, and patients receiving these expanded services. The bill explicitly prohibits pharmacists from independently diagnosing or prescribing, except for emergency insulin supplies under existing law. It also establishes joint rules for vaccine administration and medication therapy protocols between pharmacy and medical boards.
HB 2812 makes it a misdemeanor to tether or chain a dog in specific unsafe ways, directly affecting dog owners who leave dogs unattended or restrict them improperly. The bill prohibits: leaving dogs unsupervised while tethered, failing to provide shelter/food/water, tethering in unsafe areas, tethering more than 30 minutes total in a day, or using a tether too short for the dog's size. It includes exemptions for camping areas and hunting, and allows animal control officers to seize dogs if immediate danger is present. The law aims to prevent animal suffering by setting clear standards for tethering practices.
HB 2650 gradually eliminates property taxes on tangible personal property (like business equipment and furniture) in cities or counties that vote to do so. If approved by voters, the tax rate on this property decreases each year for five years: starting at 26.6% in year one, dropping to 19.9%, then 13.2%, 6.5%, and finally 0% from year five onward. Cities or counties may also choose to replace lost revenue with a local sales tax, but only if voters approve both the elimination and the sales tax. This directly affects local governments and businesses that own taxable tangible personal property within participating jurisdictions.
HB 2726 requires Missouri health insurance plans (effective January 1, 2027) to cover a prescribed drug without forcing patients to switch to an alternative drug, unless a patient's doctor provides written approval stating the switch is medically necessary. This directly affects patients prescribed specific medications and health insurers offering plans in Missouri. The bill prevents insurers from mandating drug substitutions solely for cost reasons, ensuring coverage for the doctor-recommended drug. Exceptions include existing step therapy protocols and interchangeable biological products, as specified in related laws.
HB 2675 requires the state Department of Mental Health to apply for federal grant funding to create a statewide mobile mental health unit program. If funded, the program would partner with local health agencies to deploy vehicles that provide mental health information, reduce stigma around mental health and substance use, connect people to community care, and help schedule appointments. The mobile units would operate across communities to improve access to behavioral health services and promote public awareness. This is a procedural bill focused on securing federal resources to launch the initiative, not direct funding.
This bill repeals existing Missouri statutes about vehicle service fees and replaces them with new rules governing fee collection for motor vehicle services (like registration, titles, and licenses). It establishes specific fee amounts (e.g., $9 for annual vehicle registration, $9 for driver's licenses) and prioritizes awarding fee-processing contracts to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that reinvest at least 75% of profits locally. The bill does not create new state identification cards for youth, as the title suggests - the actual provisions focus on standard vehicle service fee structures and contracting rules. It directly affects organizations providing these services through state-authorized fee offices, not individual residents.
HJR 156 proposes amending Missouri's state constitution to protect the right to keep and bear arms, repealing the current Section 23 and replacing it with new language. The amendment guarantees this right for self-defense and requires any restrictions to undergo "strict scrutiny," while explicitly allowing local governments (counties, St. Louis, Kansas City) to create their own firearm ordinances. Key provisions include limiting local permit fees to actual costs, requiring permits to expire after five years, recognizing permits from other jurisdictions, and exempting active law enforcement, judges, and certain security personnel. The bill does not override federal law or the Second Amendment but permits local rules subject to these specific constraints.
HB 2674 requires private Missouri employers to allow employees unpaid leave for at least one mental health appointment per week. It defines "mental health appointment" as visits under four hours with a provider for mental disorders, excluding public employers. Employees must provide 48 hours' notice (or certification after unscheduled absences), and employers may request sworn statements plus provider documentation - keeping all records confidential. The bill clarifies this leave cannot exceed federal FMLA limits and does not override existing policies offering more generous mental health benefits. Employers must annually inform employees of these rights.
HB 2804 requires all peace officers in the state to complete one hour of annual autism sensitivity training as part of their existing continuing education requirements. The training must cover identifying signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and effective communication strategies for interacting with individuals who have ASD. This annual training, which can be completed virtually, is integrated into current law enforcement education mandates and does not add extra hours beyond existing requirements. The bill directly affects all active law enforcement officers employed by county or municipal agencies. It focuses on practical skills to improve officer interactions with people on the autism spectrum during routine encounters.
HB 2841 revises Missouri's statewide assessment system for public schools to focus on performance-based testing that measures problem-solving, critical thinking, and practical skills - rather than rote memorization - in subjects like reading, math, science, and history. The bill prohibits using existing tests approved under prior law and requires assessments to evaluate what students "know and can do," with scores for English learners not counted until they complete three years of instruction in English-speaking schools. It also creates a "waiver" program for schools meeting high performance standards for three consecutive years, allowing them to bypass certain testing requirements and operational rules under the "Outstanding Schools Waivers" plan. Additionally, the bill mandates alternate assessments for students with special needs to evaluate independent living skills and includes provisions for military-dependent students relocating mid-year.
HB 2826 requires private employers that already offer paid family or medical leave to provide equivalent leave for adoption and fostering. It mandates that this leave cover the child's birth, placement, and bonding period, under the same terms and conditions as existing leave for maternity, paternity, or other family leave. The bill applies directly to private employers with paid leave policies, extending their current coverage to include adoption and foster care without creating new leave requirements.
HB 2866 establishes Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, which provides tax credits to Missouri taxpayers who donate to qualifying charitable organizations that fund education scholarships. Taxpayers can claim a credit equal to 100% of their contribution (capped at 50% of their state tax liability), with a total annual spending limit of $150 million adjusted yearly based on school funding. The program directs scholarship funds to eligible students through educational assistance organizations, limiting certified organizations to 15 per year and allocating tax credits on a first-come, first-served basis. It directly affects taxpayers making donations, charitable organizations administering scholarships, and families seeking education options beyond traditional public schools.
