SB 1341 would authorize a tax credit for eligible taxpayers who pay certain educational expenses, such as tuition or qualified training costs. The bill would allow these taxpayers to reduce their state income tax liability by a specified amount based on their qualifying expenses. However, the official abstract does not specify which educational expenses qualify, the credit amount, or the exact eligibility criteria for taxpayers. As a prefiled bill (first read on 2026-01-07), it remains under consideration and has not yet become law.
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
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 1784 amends Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by changing the definition of "qualified student" to expand eligibility. It allows students with a special education plan under federal law (IDEA) or those from households earning below 300% of the income standard for free/reduced-price lunches to qualify. To qualify under the income rule, students must have recently attended public school, be kindergarten-eligible, or have a sibling already receiving a scholarship. The bill directly affects Missouri students seeking scholarship funds for private, charter, or virtual schools. This change modifies existing eligibility criteria without altering the program's core structure.
Based solely on the provided context, SB 1051's official abstract states it "creates provisions relating to protections against discrimination in educational settings," but the abstract lacks specific details about the bill's exact requirements, covered protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender, disability), or affected groups. The bill is currently in early stages (prefiled, first read), with no committee action or detailed provisions described in the available information. Without concrete language on mechanisms or scope, a substantive summary of policy changes cannot be provided. For a factual summary, more details from the full bill text or committee reports would be needed.
SB 1121 - This act creates the "Missouri Higher Education Funding Policy Prioritization Act" and creates and modifies provisions relating to higher education workforce policy prioritization. The act modifies the Bright Flight Scholarship Program by modifying the scholarship amounts and by awarding additional scholarships to students who receive Bright Flight awards and are enrolled in eligible programs of study under the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program. For the 2027-28 academic year and all subsequent academic years, subject to appropriation, an eligible student under Bright Flight shall be offered academic scholarships in an amount equal to the actual in-state tuition charged for the first four semesters the student is enrolled at the approved institution. This provision shall also apply to a Bright Flight recipient in academic years prior to 2027-28 who has completed the first two semesters under the current iteration of the program, for such student's third and fourth semesters. Additionally, a Bright Flight renewal student who is enrolled in an eligible program of study under Fast Track may renew Bright Flight scholarships for up to six semesters in an amount equal to the actual in-state tuition charged. (Section 173.250) The "Missouri Higher Education Funding Policy Prioritization Act" is established to require the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) to develop a funding model for public institutions of higher education. The act sets forth criteria for the funding model, which shall be aligned to meet the professional and workforce needs for the state; shall provide sustainable resources for institutions; and shall be based on the 2023 performance funding study commissioned by DHEWD. The model shall include a process for allocating core appropriations to four-year institutions, community colleges, and State Technical College of Missouri, and shall use a cost-based approach, along with a performance component, as described in the act. The model shall also establish a plan for testing and implementation. After the plan has been reviewed and consented to by two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, as well as two senators appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the plan shall be approved by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly before August 31, 2026. DHEWD shall evaluate the effectiveness of the funding model test and submit a report to the Governor, the Speaker, and the President Pro Tempore before October 15, 2026. The funding model shall be presented to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education for final approval before November 1, 2026. However, the funding model shall not become effective unless approved by the General Assembly by concurrent resolution. For the 2028-29 fiscal year and all subsequent fiscal years, appropriations to four-year institutions, community colleges, and State Technical College of Missouri shall be in accordance with the funding model approved by the General Assembly. (Section 173.1541) This provision is similar to HB 1569 (2025), HB 2905 (2024), and to a provision in HCS/HB 2123 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
SB 1029 requires all public school districts to create and maintain a publicly accessible website showing every dollar they receive (from state/local funding, grants, etc.) and spend (on staff, supplies, operations, etc.). This directly affects school districts by mandating a new online financial transparency tool for parents, taxpayers, and community members. The key provision is a single, real-time digital record replacing current manual or fragmented reporting methods. The bill does not alter funding amounts or spending priorities, only the method of disclosing financial information.
This bill modifies Missouri's tax credit program for contributions to educational assistance organizations (EAOs). It allows taxpayers to claim a 100% credit for donations made after August 2021, capped at 50% of their state tax liability, with an annual $75 million limit adjusted yearly based on school district funding changes. Credits are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and taxpayers cannot designate specific students for scholarships. The law directly affects donors to EAOs and the organizations themselves, ensuring credits are used within the annual cap without transferability or refunds.
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 2123 creates a merit-based scholarship program for Missouri students attending in-state colleges. It provides up to $3,000 annually for students in the top 3% of Missouri ACT/SAT test-takers and up to $1,000 for those in the top 4-5%, covering tuition at Missouri public or private institutions. Eligibility requires Missouri residency, high school graduation, and a qualifying test score, with special provisions for military service, medical leave, or nonprofit work. The program is administered by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, starting before the 2027-28 academic year.
