HB 2464 establishes the "Missouri Terminally Ill Patient Dignity and Care Act," requiring hospitals to provide specific care standards for patients certified by a physician as terminally ill (expected to die within six months). Key provisions mandate timely pain management, a 30-minute response time to patient requests for assistance (unless clinically justified), documented care protocols, and access to a terminal care ombudsman to address complaints. Hospitals must track response times, investigate neglect complaints, and report annually to the Department of Health, with penalties including civil fines up to $5,000 per violation or license suspension for noncompliance. The law directly affects terminally ill patients in Missouri hospitals and takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 2477 imposes an immediate moratorium on the construction of new solar projects in Missouri that sell electricity commercially (including permits and ongoing construction). It directly affects solar developers and companies planning large-scale solar facilities. The bill requires the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to create environmental rules for solar projects by December 31, 2027, or the moratorium continues until those rules are finalized. The moratorium ends on December 31, 2027, unless the department fails to issue the required rules. The bill includes an emergency clause citing public health and safety concerns as justification for immediate implementation.
HB 2475 modifies Missouri's Renewable Energy Standard by establishing new renewable energy portfolio requirements for electric utilities. It requires utilities to generate or purchase electricity from alternative energy sources (including wind, solar, and hydropower) to meet specific annual targets: 2% by 2013, 5% by 2017, 10% by 2020, and 15% annually starting in 2021, with at least 2% coming from solar. Utilities can comply by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) or generating eligible energy, with Missouri-produced renewable energy counting as 1.25 times its actual amount toward compliance. The bill directly affects all electric utilities serving Missouri consumers, requiring them to meet these tiered targets for electricity sales.
HB 2492 creates a voluntary self-exclusion program for firearm purchases in Missouri. Individuals can file a waiver with the Missouri Department of Public Safety to temporarily or permanently exclude themselves from purchasing firearms, which is entered into background check systems. The program requires designated contact persons to be notified if the individual attempts a purchase while under waiver, and waivers remain active for 30 days after revocation. This directly affects individuals who choose to use this self-exclusion option, with no impact on law enforcement or dealers.
HB 2483, titled "Respect People's Abortion Decisions Act," proposes definitions for key terms related to abortion (such as "abortion," "medical emergency," and "gestational age") and states that "the state shall protect a person's right to terminate a pregnancy" under certain conditions. It defines abortion broadly as "the intentional termination of the pregnancy" and specifies that a "medical emergency" justifies abortion to prevent death or serious harm. The bill claims no criminal prosecution can occur for actions permitted under it, though it remains in early prefiled stages (prefiled December 2025, read first time January 2026). This bill does not yet create enforceable policy but outlines proposed definitions and protections for abortion access.
HB 2489 requires state-funded organizations providing pregnancy-related services (like family planning, abortion care, prenatal care, or adoption counseling) to share medically accurate and unbiased information about all reproductive health options - including birth control, pregnancy, adoption, and postpartum care. To qualify for state funding, these organizations must provide information verified by medical research, recognized by major health bodies (such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or CDC), or aligned with national medical guidelines. The bill defines "medically accurate" through three specific criteria to ensure information is evidence-based and objective. This applies directly to clinics and providers seeking state financial support for pregnancy-related services. The bill is currently pending in committee (prefiled December 2025, read twice January 2026).
HB 2290 designates the city of Marshfield as the official location for Missouri's state cherry blossom festival. This procedural bill directly affects Marshfield city officials and festival organizers by formally naming their city as the designated site for this annual event. The bill makes no changes to funding, policy, or regulations - only establishes Marshfield as the official host location for the festival. It does not impact other communities or alter existing festival operations.
HB 2493 requires Missouri firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms to local law enforcement within 72 hours of discovery. The law mandates reporting the firearm's make, model, and serial number, which must be entered into Missouri's state law enforcement database. Failure to report results in tiered fines: $100 for a first violation, $400 for a second, and up to $500 for third or subsequent violations (classified as misdemeanors). This bill directly affects all Missouri firearm owners who experience loss or theft of their weapons.
HB 2487 modifies Missouri's higher education residency rules to automatically treat as Missouri residents students who graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, or homeschool), unless they establish residence elsewhere. Non-citizen students must provide a written statement agreeing to pursue legal status when eligible. Missouri colleges receiving state funds cannot deny admission based solely on immigration status if these conditions are met, and all applicant information collected under this section must remain confidential. The bill also requires colleges to verify students' legal status for financial aid but does not change tuition rates.
HB 2499 establishes specific rights and requirements for students renting purpose-built off-campus housing designed for college attendees in Missouri. It mandates that landlords provide habitable living spaces with functioning utilities (water, electricity, heat), timely repairs, proper notice for entry/sales, and lease modifications for academic changes (like transferring schools, withdrawals, or family emergencies). The bill requires leases to clearly outline academic services (like reliable internet), essential services (laundry, security), fees, and dispute resolution processes. Landlords must also provide a free, standardized flyer explaining these lease terms to renters, created in coordination with the Department of Higher Education. This directly affects student renters and landlords of purpose-built student housing properties.
HB 2500 repeals Missouri's current charter school laws and replaces them with new restrictions on where charter schools may operate statewide. The bill limits charter schools to specific districts - such as unaccredited districts, large urban areas (>350,000 population), or districts with prolonged provisional accreditation - and restricts enrollment in larger districts to 35% of total students. It also changes who can sponsor charters, allowing only school boards, certain colleges, or the Missouri charter commission, while removing previous exceptions for counties like Boone. The bill does not specifically target Boone County (the title is misleading), as the changes apply uniformly across all Missouri school districts.
HB 2488 clarifies that birthing centers - defined as facilities primarily for childbirth without overnight stays - are explicitly exempt from certain licensing requirements applied to ambulatory surgical centers. The bill modifies definitions to specify that birthing centers do not require the hospital transfer agreements mandated for surgical centers, though they must still maintain licensed medical staff on-site and proper patient records. This directly affects birthing centers operating in Missouri by simplifying their licensing process under existing health regulations. The key change removes a specific administrative burden (hospital transfer agreements) while preserving other safety standards like licensed physician presence and medical record-keeping.
