HB 2093 revises Missouri's legal definitions related to human remains disposal by adding new terms for modern methods. It defines "alkaline hydrolysis" (a water-based decomposition process) and "natural organic reduction" (composting human remains) as authorized disposal options. The bill replaces outdated statutes with these new definitions to clarify the legal framework for these methods. It directly affects funeral providers, mortuaries, and individuals choosing alternative disposition methods, without changing who can make disposition decisions or adding new requirements. The change primarily provides legal clarity for newer disposal practices already in use.
HB 2084 updates Missouri's rules for spousal maintenance (alimony) in divorce or legal separation cases. It requires courts to consider specific factors like each spouse's income, education needs, marriage duration, and the recipient's ability to support themselves when setting maintenance amounts and duration. The bill mandates that all maintenance orders include a termination date, which must automatically end when the paying spouse reaches full retirement age (unless both parties agree otherwise), and requires six months' notice before retirement. These changes apply to all new maintenance orders and modifications after the law takes effect.
HB 2090 requires most Missouri landlords to offer tenants the voluntary option to have their on-time rent payments reported to credit bureaus. Landlords must provide a written election form detailing the option, fees (capped at $10/month or actual cost), and the right to opt out for six months. The law applies to most residential landlords but excludes single-property owners of buildings with 15 or fewer units. Tenants must pay any required fee separately from rent, and failure to pay may temporarily halt reporting for six months. The requirement begins for new leases on or after February 1, 2027.
HB 2091 allows retired classroom teachers and support staff to return to full-time work in Missouri public schools for up to four years without losing their retirement benefits, but only if the school district has a verified shortage of certified staff or noncertified support staff. School districts must first demonstrate they tried to hire non-retired staff (e.g., by posting vacancies for a month and showing insufficient applicants) and declare a critical shortage. The bill limits the number of returning retirees to either 1% of a district’s total staff or five people, whichever is greater. Districts hiring retirees must pay the employer’s retirement contribution rate and include these hires in the State Directory of New Hires for federal verification.
HB 2079 exempts the retail sale of food from Missouri's state sales tax starting August 2026, while phasing out local sales and use taxes on food over four years (2027-2030). It defines "food" narrowly to exclude prepared meals from restaurants, fast food, and similar establishments where over 80% of revenue comes from immediate consumption. The bill directs the revenue from the remaining 1% state tax (until 2026) to the school district trust fund, as required by existing law. This directly affects grocery stores, convenience stores, and food retailers, but not restaurants or eateries meeting the defined exclusion.
HB 2078 requires Missouri school districts to adjust how they allocate funds for administrative staff and teachers. Starting in the 2027-28 school year, at least 88% of total compensation (salaries, wages, and benefits) must go to classroom teachers, increasing by 1% annually until reaching 95% by 2028-29 and beyond. The bill defines "teacher" as certified classroom educators and excludes non-classroom roles like coaches or advisors from this calculation. This directly affects all Missouri public school districts in their budgeting for staff compensation.
HB 2087 prohibits intentionally releasing balloons into the atmosphere on private or public property within any incorporated city (like St. Louis City), including banning events that promote such releases. It exempts indoor releases, approved scientific research, fully recovered hot air balloons, and military/emergency operations. Violators face civil fines starting at $100 per balloon for a first offense, increasing to $500 for repeat offenses, plus $2,500 per event for businesses sponsoring releases. Enforcement is handled by city environmental departments, police, and allows residents to report violations via city hotlines or services.
Missouri's HB 2092 would require the state to permanently switch to standard time (no daylight saving time) starting November 1, 2026. After this date, Missouri would no longer observe the biannual clock changes for daylight saving time. The bill includes one exception: if the federal government adopts daylight saving time as the national standard, Missouri would align with that federal change. This law directly affects all Missouri residents and businesses by changing the state's official timekeeping practice.
HB 2081 requires Missouri-based entities participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program (which provides discounted medications to safety-net hospitals and clinics) to submit detailed annual reports to the state Department of Health and Senior Services by April 1st. The reports must include specific financial data on drug acquisition costs, payments received, charity care expenses, and how savings from the program are used. Entities failing to submit on time face daily fines of $1,000. The department will then compile and publicly share aggregated data annually, while keeping individual entity reports confidential. This bill directly affects Missouri hospitals, clinics, and outpatient facilities that operate under the federal 340B program.
SB 1083 modifies Missouri's requirements for obtaining and maintaining a respiratory care license. It creates a conditional license process while background checks are completed, requires active National Board for Respiratory Care credentials for renewal, and adds random audits to verify ongoing credential status. The bill directly affects respiratory care practitioners applying for licensure or renewing their licenses in Missouri. Key changes include replacing outdated sections with new rules for credential verification, background checks, and inactive license options.
HB 2100 allows cities classified as "third" in Missouri to adopt term limits for mayors and council members through voter approval. If approved by a majority of voters, council members would be limited to four terms, while mayors would be limited to two terms. The bill requires the city council to first vote to propose term limits, then submit the question to voters in the next available election. These limits would apply to terms beginning after voter approval, directly affecting local elected officials in participating third-class cities.
HB 2112 creates Missouri's "Teachers Matter Grant Program," providing financial incentives for teachers to engage in voluntary extra duties beyond their regular contracts. Qualified teachers (with valid licenses, satisfactory evaluations, and no existing salary supplements) earn up to $4,000 total through two $2,000 payments: the first after 40+ hours of self-directed work (like coaching, mentoring, or test prep) between December and January, and the second after another 40 hours between May and June. School districts match state funds for district grants ($1,000 each), but teachers must document their extra hours via written agreements and logs. The program expires after six years unless renewed by the legislature.
