HB 2580 prohibits public school staff from supporting students' social transition to being perceived as the opposite biological sex. It requires staff to report student requests for such support to principals within 24 hours, and principals must notify parents within 72 hours. The bill bans staff from using alternative pronouns/names, discussing gender transition with students, or affirming a student's gender identity at school. Violations could lead to staff termination, license revocation, or parental lawsuits seeking damages or injunctions.
HB 2624 establishes Missouri's "Kinship Infant Care Support Program" to provide financial support to relatives caring for infants under one year old. Eligible caregivers (like grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings) receive hourly payments so the infant's parent or parents can work, attend school, or complete job training for at least 20 hours weekly while meeting income limits (≤250% of federal poverty level). The program pays higher hourly rates for families below 150% poverty, requires background checks and initial safety training (including CPR and safe sleep practices), and limits payments to 60 hours weekly per infant (max two infants). Caregivers cannot receive this support if they already get other child care subsidies or foster care payments.
SS/SCS/SB 1085 - This act prohibits public school and charter school staff members from encouraging minor students in their "social transition", defined as the process of a minor student changing his or her gender presentation or expression, with the goal of being perceived and treated as a gender different from the student's biological sex. The act defines a "staff member" as a teacher, school employee, volunteer, contractor, or other individual authorized to provide services at a public school or charter school, including, but not limited to, any individual in a position of authority or responsibility, such as a counselor or health care worker. School staff members shall neither encourage a minor student to withhold information from his or her parent nor withhold certain health information from a student's parent. A staff member shall notify a minor student's parent by phone or email within 24 hours of receiving a request by the student to participate in the student's social transition. The act outlines certain actions that trigger this parental notification requirement, including a minor student's request to be referred to by a pronoun that does not correspond to the student's biological sex; a request to use a name that does not correspond to the student's legal name; a request to use a restroom designated for the opposite biological sex; or a request to participate on an athletic team designated for the opposite biological sex. No staff member shall engage in any conduct that facilitates the social transition of any minor student; deliver any presentation or lesson to any minor student regarding gender transition or social transition; or refer to a minor student by a title or pronoun that does not correspond to the student's biological sex, or by a name other than the student's legal name or a nickname or derivative thereof. A staff member or student shall not be subject to any disciplinary action for declining to address a person using a name that does not correspond to the person's legal name or a pronoun that is inconsistent with the person's biological sex. A staff member who discloses a violation of this act by another staff member shall be protected from any manner of retaliation as set forth in current law. If a school district discovers that a licensed educator has knowingly violated any provision of this act, the school district shall initiate disciplinary proceedings against that staff member, up to and including suspension or revocation of the individual's teaching license and suspension or termination of employment, as appropriate. A licensed educator at a charter school shall also be subject to disciplinary proceedings for violations of the act, up to and including suspension or revocation of the individual's teaching license and suspension or termination of employment, as provided in the act. The Attorney General may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief, against a school district, public school, charter school, or staff member for any violation of this act. Any parent of a minor student may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief or for damages, against the staff member or against the school district, public school, or charter school in which such minor student is enrolled for any violation of this act. If the parent prevails, the court shall award to such parent court costs and reasonable attorney's fees and any other damages or remedy which in the judgment of the court shall be appropriate. Any staff member may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief or for damages, against the school district, public school, or charter school that employs such staff member for any violation of the act's prohibitions on certain disciplinary or retaliatory actions against school staff members. This act is similar to HB 2580 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2172 prohibits local governments (like cities or counties) from blocking charter schools from using properties for education by banning ordinances, deed restrictions, or other rules that prevent such use. It requires school districts to offer unused school buildings (not used for academic purposes with no 2-year plan) to charter schools first, with 60-day public notice online listing key details like square footage and contact info. Charter schools have the right to purchase or lease these buildings at fair market value, and if leasing, they cover maintenance, utilities, and taxes during the term. The bill ensures school districts cannot sell or lease such properties to non-charter entities without giving charter schools the initial opportunity.
HJR 114 proposes a constitutional amendment to Missouri's Article I, adding Section 37 that would guarantee parents the fundamental right to direct their child's education without government interference. It specifically ensures parents can homeschool or educate children outside public schools without any government regulations, restrictions, or record-keeping requirements - even if they receive state funding or assistance. The amendment also requires public schools to provide transparent access to curricula and lesson plans via their publicly accessible websites. This proposal must be approved by Missouri voters in the 2026 general election to become part of the state constitution.
HJR 148 proposes a constitutional amendment that would temporarily adjust property tax levies for certain Missouri school districts affected by a federal court order. It allows these districts to set property tax rates lower than the court-ordered 1995 rate until December 31, 2026, with voter approval needed for rates at or above the original court rate. For 2027, it requires school districts to set levies to maintain prior revenue levels adjusted for inflation (using the Consumer Price Index), then reverts to standard constitutional tax rules starting in 2028. This directly affects school districts with historical court-ordered property tax rates. The amendment must be approved by voters before taking effect.
HB 1628 modifies Missouri's higher education and workforce development laws by creating a "Ready to Work" endorsement program for high school seniors, allowing schools to certify students meeting specific academic and work-readiness standards by June 2007. It reorganizes the workforce development governance structure, renaming the "Missouri Workforce Investment Board" to the "Workforce Development Board" and aligning its operations with federal WIOA requirements. The bill also requires the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to coordinate state and federal job training resources, including ensuring economically disadvantaged individuals have access to new job opportunities created through state business assistance programs. These changes directly affect high school students, local workforce boards, and state agencies managing job training and employment services.
HB 2217 requires public school districts and colleges to submit detailed information about their curricula and textbooks to a state-run online database. School districts must provide syllabi, textbook bibliographic details (title, author, website), and curriculum links every six months, while colleges must report course descriptions and textbook information. The database will be searchable by the public, with protections for copyright compliance (no digital reproduction or infringement required). The law applies starting in the 2026-27 school year for K-12 and 2026-27 academic year for higher education. It directly affects all public schools and colleges in the state by mandating transparency in instructional materials.
HB 2443 revises Missouri's laws governing degrees at public colleges and universities. It designates the University of Missouri as the sole state institution permitted to offer research doctorates (like PhDs) and certain professional degrees (such as law, medicine, or veterinary medicine), with limited exceptions. The bill creates a new Coordinating Board for Higher Education to review and approve all new degree programs, requiring institutions to prove they’ve explored collaboration with other schools, meet quality standards, address workforce needs, and align with state education plans. This replaces prior oversight structures and centralizes authority over degree offerings for public institutions.
HB 2449 creates a tax credit for Missouri residents who pay for eligible educational expenses for their children attending qualifying schools. It directly affects parents or guardians of students enrolled in private, parochial, home, or family-paced schools (excluding public schools). The credit covers tuition, textbooks, curriculum materials, tutoring, technology, and educational therapies, but excludes basic supplies like paper/pens and costs tied to public school activities. The credit amount is limited to 100% of eligible expenses or Missouri’s state funding target for education, whichever is lower, and becomes available starting tax year 2027. Taxpayers must submit itemized expense lists and documentation with their state income tax return.
