HB 1637 repeals multiple existing sections of Missouri law related to healthcare facility licensing and reimbursement, replacing them with four new sections (197.705, 198.530, 208.169, and 208.225). The bill directly affects hospitals, long-term care facilities, and managed care organizations by establishing new requirements for staff identification badges, reimbursement rates for services provided to facility residents, and facility licensing standards. Key provisions include mandating that healthcare personnel wear badges displaying licensure status, requiring managed care organizations to reimburse facilities for covered services at Medicare rates, and setting specific formulas for calculating facility reimbursement. This legislation modifies existing healthcare regulatory frameworks but does not address "certificates of need" as suggested by its title.
HB 1640 prohibits Missouri public institutions of higher education (like community colleges and state universities) from accepting standardized test scores (e.g., ACT, SAT, LSAT) from testing entities that require disabled applicants to undergo recent comprehensive disability testing to receive accommodations. The bill specifically targets entities requiring such testing within two years before the exam date, aligning with federal disability laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA). It directly affects disabled applicants with lifelong or static disabilities (like dyslexia, ADHD, or autism) who need accommodations for standardized tests. The prohibition applies starting in the 2027-28 academic year and aims to prevent unnecessary retesting for accommodations.
HB 1642 allows counties classified as "third" to use up to 50% of collected court fees and costs for courthouse construction or renovation projects. The funds can only be used for this purpose over a maximum of seven consecutive years per project. This bill directly affects third-class counties by providing a new funding mechanism for physical courthouse improvements. It does not change existing court fee structures but specifies how a portion of those revenues may be allocated.
HB 1632 creates tax credits for Missouri retailers and distributors selling biodiesel blends (5-20% biodiesel mixed with diesel fuel). It provides a 2-cent-per-gallon credit for blends of 5-10% biodiesel and a 5-cent-per-gallon credit for blends of 10-20% biodiesel sold at retail service stations or to final users within Missouri. The credits apply to tax years beginning in 2023 or later, with a total annual cap of $16 million and a sunset provision ending the program on December 31, 2028, unless reauthorized. This bill directly affects fuel sellers who meet the blend specifications defined in the law.
SS/SB 948 - This act provides that a parent has a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of such parent's child free from government interference. A governmental authority shall not restrict parental rights unless such authority demonstrates that the restriction is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling interest. This provision applies to all state and local laws, resolutions, and ordinances and to the implementation of such laws, resolutions, and ordinances. (Section 1.390) The act outlines certain parental rights that are exclusively reserved to a parent without obstruction by or interference from this state, any political subdivision of the state, any governmental entity, or any other institution. Under the act, parents shall have the right to: (1) Direct the education of the child; (2) Access and review all written and electronic educational records of the child; (3) Direct the child's upbringing; (4) Direct the child's moral or religious training; (5) Consent in writing to all physical and mental health care decisions for the child; (6) Access and review all health and medical records of the child; (7) Consent in writing before a biometric scan of the child is made, shared, or stored; (8) Consent in writing before any record of the child's blood or DNA is created, stored, or shared, unless authorized pursuant to a court order; (9) Consent in writing before any governmental authority makes a video or voice recording of the child, unless, without abrogating rights secured under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, such recording is made as part of an event or circumstance described in the act; (10) Be notified promptly if a governmental authority suspects that abuse, neglect, or a criminal offense has been committed against the child, unless such notification is reasonably believed to be likely to endanger the life or physical safety of the child; (11) Opt the child out of any personal analysis, evaluation, survey, or data collection by a school district except what is necessary and essential for establishing a student's educational record for a student of the school district; (12) Excuse a child from school attendance for religious purposes; (13) Participate in parent-teacher organizations and other school organizations that are sanctioned by the board of education of a school district; (14) Receive, upon first contact with a representative of the Department of Social Services, an accurate written itemization containing all details of allegations of child abuse or neglect of the child, excluding only the name of the person who made the allegations; and (15) View a publicly available, easily accessible accounting of all financial transactions conducted with school district funds without being required to submit a formal request or otherwise make direct contact with the school district to access such information. Except for law enforcement personnel, a governmental authority shall not encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's parent; nor shall a governmental authority withhold from a child's parent information that is relevant to the physical, emotional, or mental health of the child. A parent who believes his or her rights have been violated under this act may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceeding, and obtain appropriate relief against the government, including declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. (Section 1.391) Additionally, each school district shall maintain an easily accessible online record of all money the district receives and spends. Each public school within a school district shall prominently link to the district's financial ledger on the school's own website. (Section 162.192) The act additionally repeals provisions authorizing minors to consent to medical treatment or procedures involving venereal disease and drug or substance abuse. (Section 431.061) This act is similar to HB 2426 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
SB 1020 is a procedural bill that modifies administrative provisions related to Department of Revenue fee offices. The official abstract states it "modifies provisions" but does not specify the exact changes, such as office locations, fee structures, or operational procedures. As the bill is currently in early committee review (prefiled, first read, and scheduled for a committee hearing), no concrete policy changes or affected parties are described in the available context. Without additional details on the specific provisions being altered, a substantive summary cannot be provided. For full details, the full bill text would need to be consulted.
HB 1648 protects transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber or Lyft from being held legally responsible for accidents involving their drivers when the driver is logged into the app. It shields TNCs from "vicarious liability" if the company wasn’t negligent and met all legal requirements for drivers under Missouri law. The bill specifically applies to harm caused while drivers are using the TNC’s digital network for rides, excluding cases involving driver negligence or criminal acts. This changes how liability is assigned in transportation-related incidents, directly affecting TNCs’ legal exposure. The bill remains in early legislative stages with no committee action yet.
HB 2236 establishes Missouri's "Infertility Access Program" through the Department of Health and Senior Services to improve fertility treatment access. The program provides travel assistance, lodging stipends, or telehealth subsidies for individuals in rural or medically underserved areas seeking care at certified fertility clinics. It also creates an "Infertility Access Fund" for program administration, requires health carriers to publish clear fertility coverage summaries, and mandates annual reports on treatment utilization, geographic barriers, and demographic data. The bill directly affects patients in underserved regions, certified fertility clinics, and health insurance providers offering fertility coverage.
HB 1670 corrects a misleading title; it does not address income tax on tips but modifies Missouri's tax calculation rules for adjusted gross income. The bill repeals existing tax provisions and adds new rules to adjust federal tax items when calculating Missouri income tax, including: adding back certain federal tax refunds (excluding pandemic-related credits), including interest on specific government bonds, and adjusting deductions for property purchases and net operating losses. These changes affect all Missouri taxpayers who file state income tax returns, as they alter how federal tax items are treated for state tax purposes. The bill focuses on aligning Missouri's tax code with federal adjustments rather than creating new tax rates or exemptions.
HB 2237 establishes detailed procedures for administrative investigations of law enforcement officers that could lead to disciplinary action, economic loss, or other employment consequences. It requires agencies to provide officers with written notice of investigations 24 hours in advance, allow attorney presence during questioning, explain Garrity rights (that answers can't be used criminally), and complete investigations within 90 days (with limited 60-day extensions). The bill directly affects law enforcement officers facing disciplinary reviews by guaranteeing specific procedural rights, including access to complaint details, reasonable interview durations, and a full due process hearing for suspensions or terminations. Key provisions include confidentiality for complaint filers, restrictions on off-duty questioning, and requirements for agencies to maintain complete, confidential records of investigations. The title mentioning "civilian review boards" is inaccurate; the bill focuses solely on internal administrative investigation procedures for officers.
HB 1658 requires most health insurance plans in the state to cover orthotic and prosthetic devices (like braces, supports, or artificial limbs) prescribed by a doctor. It mandates that coverage must match the benefit levels, copayments, and deductibles applied to basic health care services, with no separate annual or lifetime limits unless the plan has none for basic care. This applies to standard health plans but excludes supplemental policies like Medicare supplements, short-term plans, or accident-only coverage. The bill directly affects patients needing these devices and insurers offering health coverage in the state.
HB 1669 would repeal a tax requiring suppliers to pay 0.2 cents for each bingo card sold in Missouri. This tax is currently collected by the state and contributes to the bingo proceeds for education fund. The bill would eliminate this tax obligation for bingo card suppliers, removing a cost they currently bear. As a result, suppliers would no longer pay this tax, and the state would stop collecting it.
