HB 2410 would allow Washington County to seek voter approval for a tourism-related tax on temporary visitors staying in hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, or campgrounds. If voters approve, the county could impose a tax of up to 6% per night on these stays (for stays of 31 days or less per quarter), collected separately from other charges. The revenue would be used solely to promote tourism in the county. The bill requires the county to submit the tax proposal to voters via a specific ballot question before implementation. This is a procedural step requiring voter approval; the tax would not take effect without it.
HB 2411 creates a new "Missouri Medal of Honor Fallen Heroes Fund" by allowing Missouri taxpayers to designate $1 or more from their income tax refund (or send separate contributions) to fund memorial highway signs. The fund, managed by the Department of Revenue, finances signs honoring military personnel killed in service, first responders, Missouri Medal of Honor recipients, and state employees who died while serving. It modifies the highway designation process by requiring 100 signatures and a fee for most requests (exempting certain memorials), mandating two signs per designation, and requiring 20-year maintenance. Unspent funds remain in the memorial account and cannot be diverted to general revenue.
This bill modifies sentencing for individuals convicted of murder who were under 19 at the time of the offense. It allows them to petition for parole review after 25 years (and again after 35 years) of incarceration, replacing life without parole sentences. Parole boards must consider rehabilitation efforts, maturity, accountability, and institutional conduct during reviews. Judges must also weigh youth-specific factors like development, background, and rehabilitation potential when sentencing minors convicted of murder.
HB 2428 restricts where charter schools can operate in Missouri and defines who can sponsor them. It limits charter schools to specific districts (e.g., unaccredited districts, certain urban areas, or counties with 150,000-200,000 residents) and prohibits school districts with over 1,550 students from allowing more than 35% of enrollment in locally sponsored charters. The bill also specifies eligible sponsors (like local school boards, accredited colleges, or nonprofits) and bans sponsors from charging application fees for charter proposals. These changes directly affect charter schools, school districts, and potential sponsors by altering operational rules and financial requirements.
This bill would grant water users who contract with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs exclusive rights to "return flows" (water discharged back to the reservoir from their own treated wastewater facilities). It requires these rights to comply with state regulations and only apply when unused storage capacity exists in the reservoir. The policy directly affects municipal or industrial water users who treat wastewater and discharge it back into Corps reservoirs. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and first reading).
HB 2420 authorizes charter schools in specific Missouri school districts under defined conditions, directly affecting districts classified as unaccredited, provisionally accredited, or meeting population size criteria. The bill establishes six eligibility scenarios for charter schools, including districts with financial hardship or those in counties with 150,000-200,000 residents, while limiting local school board sponsorship to districts with under 1,550 students or allowing broader sponsorship in certain cases. It permits eligible sponsors like local school boards, colleges, or nonprofits to operate charter schools, and imposes a 35% enrollment cap on charter schools within large districts (over 1,550 students). The law also prohibits sponsors from charging fees for charter applications and outlines transition rules for districts changing accreditation status.
HB 2425 changes Missouri's license plate requirement for noncommercial vehicles, requiring only one plate instead of two beginning August 28, 2026. Owners of noncommercial vehicles with a front license plate as of that date must surrender it to the Department of Revenue. The bill specifies that one plate must be displayed on the rear of most vehicles (except commercial vehicles, which may request two plates with an additional fee). It also mandates that all plates include state name, "SHOW-ME STATE," expiration date, and reflective features for visibility. This policy affects all Missouri residents who register noncommercial vehicles under current law.
This bill prevents Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services from denying trauma center status to hospitals based solely on their distance from other trauma centers. It directly affects hospitals seeking or maintaining level I, II, or III trauma center designations by removing distance as a disqualifying factor. The law requires the department to base designations on whether hospitals meet established clinical criteria, including national verification standards, rather than geographic proximity. Hospitals that meet these criteria - verified by national bodies like the American College of Surgeons - will not face denial due to location.
HB 1796 repeals existing Missouri property rights laws and replaces them with new provisions focused on building codes and homeowner access to permits. It prohibits local governments (counties, municipalities, fire districts) from requiring one- or two-family homes, condos, or townhouses to meet specific "green" or energy efficiency standards beyond the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The bill also creates the "Building Permit Reform Act," exempting owner-occupants of single-family homes from needing licenses or certifications to perform their own renovations, with a potential $5,000 fee if the property is sold within one year. Violating these restrictions makes the local ordinance null and void.
HJR 126 proposes a constitutional amendment that would reduce property tax assessments for qualifying seniors and disabled homeowners by 50%. It applies to residential property owned by individuals aged 65+ or permanently disabled under federal/state law, with income under $50,000 (single) or $75,000 (married filing jointly) in the prior tax year. Starting January 1, 2027, such properties would be assessed at 50% of their standard value instead of full value. This amendment requires voter approval in the 2026 election to take effect.
HB 1804 modifies Missouri's traffic laws for drivers convicted of intoxication-related offenses by creating an alternative to license suspension. It allows individuals facing suspension under specific provisions to avoid it by installing a certified ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle, instead requiring a 90-day restricted driving period. If the IID is maintained properly (with no alcohol readings above set limits or tampering), the driver can regain full driving privileges after 90 days. The bill directly affects drivers convicted of certain DUI offenses who would otherwise face suspension under sections 302.302(8) or (10). It replaces prior penalty structures with this IID-based pathway, emphasizing device compliance as the key requirement for reinstatement.
HJR 127 proposes a constitutional amendment for Missouri that would require all marriages to be between individuals aged 18 or older. If approved by voters, it would repeal the current constitutional definition of marriage (Section 33) and replace it with a new provision stating marriage must exist only between people who are 18 or older. This amendment directly affects anyone seeking to marry in Missouri by establishing a minimum age requirement for marriage. The bill does not change the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman (that language is a placeholder to be removed), but instead focuses solely on the age requirement. The amendment would be submitted to voters in the November 2026 general election.
