SB 1048 - This act creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver" to provide college tuition waivers for the children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans. The act defines an "institution" as including any state college or university or public community college that receives appropriations from the General Assembly for operating expenses and satisfies certain other conditions established in current law. A dependent of a veteran shall be eligible to receive a waiver of tuition and fees at an institution, up to a maximum that shall not exceed the amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri-Columbia for attendance, if the dependent has a parent, stepparent, or spouse who is or was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, died after discharge from the military as a result of injury or illness, is rated as permanently and totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war. For a dependent who is the child or stepchild of such a veteran, the act specifies that the dependent shall be under 26 years old unless the dependent serves on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, in which case the eligibility period shall be extended a maximum of five years, up to the dependent's 31st birthday. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to implement the provisions of the act. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall ensure that the application process is accessible, transparent, and efficiently administered. The Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission shall establish application procedures, determine applicants' eligibility, certify approved applicants, establish procedures for fraud prevention, and oversee program compliance and reporting, as provided in the act. The Executive Director shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to facilitate communication with institutions, ensure proper implementation of the waivers, and maintain program efficiency. The Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall ensure consistent implementation of the act across all institutions, develop guidelines for institutions to process tuition waivers, and coordinate with the Missouri Veterans Commission to ensure seamless communication and prevent administrative delays for eligible applicants. A tuition waiver shall be valid for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university. Receipt of a degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college shall precede receipt of a baccalaureate degree. A recipient of a tuition waiver shall be ineligible for the Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant Program, the Survivors of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program, and any other state-funded veteran-dependent tuition grant, waiver, or scholarship. A student who has previously received any such grant, waiver, or scholarship shall not be eligible to receive a tuition waiver, and a student shall not concurrently receive a tuition waiver and any other such grant, waiver, or scholarship. A recipient of a tuition waiver may transfer from one institution to another without losing entitlement to the tuition waiver. If a recipient is granted financial assistance under any other student aid program, whether public or private, the full amount of such financial assistance shall be reported to the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. This act is identical to HB 2074 (2026) substantially similar to SB 716 (2025). OLIVIA SHANNON
SB 1192 prohibits higher education accrediting agencies from using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices as a factor in evaluating or accrediting colleges and universities. This directly affects public and private institutions seeking or maintaining accreditation, as they can no longer be assessed on their DEI efforts. The bill’s key mechanism is a clear legal prohibition requiring accrediting bodies to exclude DEI considerations from their accreditation standards and reviews. The bill is currently pending, having been prefaced in December 2025 and receiving its first reading in January 2026.
HB 2448 modifies Missouri law to allow charter schools in school districts located within counties having 150,000-200,000 residents, specifically adding this population range to the existing eligibility criteria. The bill directly affects school districts in counties like Cass County (which falls within this population range), expanding opportunities for charter school establishment beyond current boundaries. Key provisions include repealing prior sections and enacting new rules that permit charter schools in these districts without applying certain restrictions from other subsections. This change enables local school boards or approved sponsors to operate charter schools in qualifying districts, subject to enrollment limits for larger districts. The policy shift aims to provide additional educational options in specific county-sized districts under defined conditions.
SB 1198 is a proposed bill requiring all public schools to provide instruction in human growth and development. It would directly affect students in public K-12 schools by mandating this curriculum be included in their education. The bill's key mechanism is a straightforward requirement for school districts to incorporate this subject into their instructional programs. The bill is currently in early stages (prefiled, awaiting first reading) and does not specify grade levels, content details, or exemptions.
HB 1973 modifies Missouri law to require schools and colleges to determine student athletic participation based on biological sex as recorded on a student's birth certificate or government record. It prohibits students from competing in sports designated for the opposite biological sex (e.g., a student assigned male at birth competing in girls' sports), except when no equivalent competition exists for their biological sex. Schools violating this law risk losing state funding, and affected students or parents can seek legal remedies. The law includes a sunset provision, expiring August 28, 2027, and defines "sex" as male/female based on reproductive biology and genome at birth.
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 1662 requires all public schools to provide every enrolled student with one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day they attend classes. This applies to all students attending public schools as defined by state law, directly affecting every child in participating schools. The bill mandates daily meal provision without requiring families to qualify for reduced-price programs. It creates a new requirement for school districts to cover the cost of these meals for all students. The legislation is still in early stages, having been prefaced and read for the first time.
HB 2341 requires public and charter schools with 70% or more students eligible for free/reduced-price meals (through the National School Lunch Program) to offer breakfast after the school day begins (not before classes start), starting in the 2026-27 school year. This directly affects high-need schools, including those using the USDA Community Eligibility Option, while allowing schools to choose delivery methods like classroom breakfast or pickup. Schools already serving breakfast to 70%+ eligible students are exempt, and schools falling below the threshold must continue the program for two years before stopping. The state education department must notify schools, provide implementation guidance, collect data on breakfast models, and report annually on the program's effectiveness.
HB 1748 establishes rules for private scholarship organizations that provide education funding to Missouri students. It requires these organizations to be tax-exempt (501(c)(3)), distribute scholarships in a specific priority order (favoring students with IEPs, military families, low-income status, or unaccredited district enrollment), and spend at least 90% of funds on scholarships while capping administrative costs. The bill mandates reporting test results, parent satisfaction surveys, and graduation data to state education officials, with scholarship amounts limited to 100-175% of the state's education funding target based on student need. This directly affects private scholarship programs, participating students, and Missouri public schools receiving these funds.
HB 1998 prohibits Missouri public schools and colleges from using state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This applies to all public K-12 schools and public postsecondary institutions receiving state funds, including federal funds administered through the state. The bill requires institutions using state funds for DEI to repay those funds, lose all state funding for the current fiscal year, and face withheld future funding until compliance. It also mandates departments to monitor compliance, accept public complaints, and publish annual enforcement reports.
