Missouri Bills

HB 2992 establishes Missouri's "Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant" program, providing state-funded grants to eligible Missouri residents for approved postsecondary education or apprenticeships. It directly affects individuals meeting specific criteria: Missouri residents aged 25+ or with no prior postsecondary enrollment for two years, with adjusted gross income under $100,000 (joint) or $50,000 (individual), and enrolled in programs targeting occupational shortages. Grants cover related educational costs like tools and books, and require recipients to maintain a 2.5 GPA for renewals while pursuing certificates, degrees, or industry credentials. The program expires after four semesters, upon earning a bachelor's degree, or reaching 200% of typical program completion time, administered by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

HCR 34 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act. It directly affects medically retired service members with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating below 50%, who currently lose $1 in retirement pay for every $1 in disability benefits they receive. The resolution seeks to eliminate this offset, allowing these veterans to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits simultaneously. This change would impact an estimated 50,000 veterans, as noted in the resolution's findings. The bill is procedural and does not create new law, but formally requests federal action.

HJR 168 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring most charter counties in Missouri to amend their charters to make the circuit clerk an elected position. It specifically exempts counties with populations between 600,000 and 700,000 and mandates that St. Louis County’s charter must require an elected circuit clerk. The amendment would replace current constitutional language (Section 18(b)) and requires voter approval at the 2026 general election or a special election called by the governor. This change would directly affect all Missouri charter counties except those in the specified population range.

HB 3021 sets a 36% annual percentage rate (APR) limit on interest and fees for short-term consumer loans of $500 or less, directly affecting lenders offering these loans. It requires such lenders to obtain a $600 annual license, prominently display the maximum APR they charge, and provide clear borrower disclosures. The bill prohibits disguised loans (like leasebacks or rebates), mandates a 5% principal reduction on each renewal, and limits renewals to six times total. Lenders violating these rules face misdemeanor charges or license suspension, with strict requirements for loan terms (14-31 days) and recordkeeping.

HB 3025 requires public school districts and qualifying charter schools (those serving 40%+ students from households earning ≤185% of federal poverty guidelines) to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins ("period products") in all restrooms of middle and high schools (grades 6-12) starting July 1, 2027. The state will cover all costs using dedicated funding for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This directly affects schools meeting the income threshold, ensuring no-cost access to period products for students. The bill mandates physical availability in school restrooms without requiring student requests or fees.

HB 3033 renames a specific roadway in Phelps County, Missouri (not Texas), from its current designation to "State Route 137" along its path from Highway 63 northward. The bill directly affects local government agencies and road signage in Phelps County by mandating that all political subdivisions use this new designation. It requires official records, maps, and signage to reflect "State Route 137" and prohibits any other designation for that roadway segment. This is a purely administrative change with no policy or funding provisions.

HB 3022 modifies Missouri's empowerment scholarship program to provide state-funded accounts for eligible students. It directly affects Missouri students with disabilities (via IEPs) or from low-income households (income ≤300% of free lunch standards), and schools accepting these funds. Key provisions require participating schools to not discriminate based on race, religion, or gender identity, and ensure public schools continue receiving state/federal funding for students who use scholarships to attend non-resident schools (counted for up to five years). The law expires five years after its effective date.

HB 3013 requires counties to hold elections for planning commission members during regular countywide primary elections instead of separate local votes. This affects county planning commissions and township voters in counties that have adopted or choose to adopt county planning and zoning. The bill mandates that voters in each township elect one member during the primary election, with staggered terms of two or four years. Elected members replace previously appointed commissioners, streamlining the process for local governance.

HB 3019 establishes rules for community solar gardens, allowing multiple subscribers to share electricity generated from solar facilities. It directly affects retail electric suppliers (who must run a 2027-2029 pilot program requiring 2% of annual sales to be covered by subscriptions), community solar operators, and subscribers - including low-income households. Key provisions include defining community solar facilities (100-5,000 kW, 10+ subscribers), requiring bill credits for subscribers based on solar output, and mandating special bill credit values to ensure low-income customers save money. The bill also requires suppliers to process credits, allow subscription transfers, and report usage data in standardized formats.

HB 3034 requires that autonomous vehicles operating on public roads in this state must have a licensed, trained driver physically present in the vehicle at all times who can immediately take control. The bill mandates that operators follow standard traffic safety rules, drive carefully at safe speeds, and avoid stunt driving. It directly affects autonomous vehicle operators, manufacturers, and drivers testing or using such vehicles on state roads. Violations would be punishable as misdemeanors, with higher penalties if an accident occurs. The bill establishes baseline safety requirements for autonomous vehicle operation without eliminating the need for a human driver.

HB 3030 requires healthcare providers in this state to give patients (or their authorized representatives) copies of their health records upon written request, within a reasonable time after receiving the request. Providers may charge specific, capped fees for search, copying, and delivery - up to $24.85 for search/retrieval plus $0.57 per page, with electronic options available for $108.88 total or less. The bill also prohibits fees for records needed to apply for disability, veterans, or other federal benefits (as listed in Section 9) and sets annual fee adjustments based on medical inflation. It clarifies access rules for deceased patients' records and ensures providers aren’t liable for disclosures made in good faith under these provisions.

HB 3032 strengthens fraud prevention in Missouri's workers' compensation system by adding criminal penalties for false claims and insurance violations. It makes it a felony to submit multiple claims for the same injury, present false information to obtain benefits, or intentionally refuse valid claims, with fines paid back to the workers' compensation fund. Employers with five or more employees (or construction employers with five or more) must carry insurance, and failure to do so results in escalating penalties. The bill also creates a dedicated fraud unit within the workers' compensation division to investigate violations and enforce these new provisions.