HB 2900 expands Missouri's scholarship program to allow eligible students with disabilities or from low-income families to use state funds for private school tuition. It defines "qualified students" as those with IEPs/504 plans or from households earning under 300% of free lunch income, and requires participating schools (including private, charter, and virtual schools) to not discriminate based on protected characteristics. The bill ensures public schools retain state funding for students who leave for scholarship programs for up to five years. This maintains public school funding stability while expanding school choice options under specific eligibility criteria.
HB 2406 requires state agencies to notify Missouri's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules before finalizing any new rule that would cost over $250,000 annually for state agencies or significantly impact businesses or individuals financially. The bill mandates a 30-day waiting period after committee notification and requires the legislature to approve such rules via a concurrent resolution before they can take effect. This applies to most administrative rules, making them unenforceable without following these steps, though exceptions exist for rules needed for federal compliance or funding.
HB 2020 is Missouri's fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill, allocating $26.3 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund and $15.5 million from the Coronavirus Recovery Fund for specific state programs. It funds higher education grants requiring 50% local matching, technology upgrades for job centers, port authority grants (with local match requirements), streetcar planning, and infrastructure projects like state building HVAC repairs and a new warehouse. The bill also supports broadband expansion in underserved areas, a sports facility for athletes with special needs, and early childhood education programs, all subject to local matching funds where specified. This bill directly affects Missouri state agencies, local governments, and qualifying organizations receiving these allocations for designated projects.
HB 2763 creates a funding mechanism for behavioral health crisis services by requiring wireless service providers to collect specific fees. Dealers selling prepaid wireless services must charge end users $0.65 per transaction, while CMRS providers must charge $0.65 monthly per postpaid line for customers with primary use in the state. All collected funds will be deposited into the new "988 Crisis Continuum Fund" managed by the Department of Mental Health, directly supporting crisis services like the 988 hotline and open access behavioral health programs. This bill affects wireless providers, end users purchasing service, and the state's mental health department, with no tax implications for the collected fees.
HB 2885 changes how boating registration fees are allocated in Missouri. It requires all fees collected from vessel registrations (for boats 16 feet or longer) to be deposited into the Water Patrol Division fund, with a phased transition: before July 2019, the first $2 million annually went to the general fund, but after July 2019, the first $1 million annually went to the general fund until June 2026, after which all fees must go exclusively to the Water Patrol Division. This directly affects boat owners who pay registration fees and ensures all excess fees fund water patrol operations, including safety patrols and enforcement. The bill does not alter registration requirements or fee amounts but redirects funding streams.
SJR 111 proposes a constitutional amendment modifying Missouri's real property tax rules. It would allow school districts with 1995 federal court-ordered property tax levies to lower their rates (with voter approval needed to raise rates back to the court level), ending this provision by December 31, 2026. It also requires counties to get voter approval for most tax increases and adjusts tax limits based on property valuation changes and the Consumer Price Index. This amendment must be approved by Missouri voters in the 2026 election to take effect.
HB 2734 is a proposed bill that would allow counties or cities to levy a property tax (up to 10 cents per $100 assessed value) for senior services, subject to voter approval via a ballot question. If approved, the tax revenue would fund a dedicated "Senior Citizens' Services Fund" managed by a locally appointed board of directors, which must use the money exclusively for programs improving health, nutrition, and quality of life for residents aged 60 and older. The bill requires the board to seek accreditation from a statewide nonprofit organization and pay an annual fee of 1% of fund revenue, while prohibiting fund use for political purposes. This proposal directly affects local governments, taxpayers, and seniors aged 60+ in communities adopting the tax.
HB 3006 creates a new position called "Coordinator of Federal Funds Recovery" within Missouri's state treasurer's office. The coordinator would monitor all federal funds appropriated to Missouri but never received, attempt to recover these funds through legal actions, and establish a system for state employees to report missing federal funds. This bill directly affects state employees who handle federal funds and the treasurer's office, which would manage the new role. It proposes concrete policy changes to track and pursue unclaimed federal funds through specific, actionable mechanisms.
HB 9 appropriates $6.48 million from the General Revenue Fund for the Missouri Department of Corrections' Office of the Director (including $18,060 for salary adjustments) and $8.26 million for reentry programs during fiscal year 2025-2026. Key provisions include $6.3 million for a new offender management system, $2.5 million for a recidivism-reduction pay-for-performance agreement with private programs, and $1.3 million for county re-entry navigators. The bill also allocates $7.12 million for Family Support Services and $3.29 million for Professional Standards, all subject to specific spending flexibilities. These funds directly support corrections operations, offender reentry services, and system improvements across Missouri's correctional facilities.
HB 2694 modifies Missouri's rules for handling certain state funds at the end of each two-year legislative cycle (biennium). It prevents funds from being transferred to the general revenue fund, requiring them to stay dedicated to their intended purposes. Specifically, it ensures Highway Patrol Academy Fund money stays for academy operations only, and Crime Victims' Compensation Fund money must support victim services, forensic labs, and crime victim notification systems. The bill replaces outdated rules with these new restrictions to maintain funding stability for these specific programs.
