SB 1290 - This act establishes the "Missouri Healthy Schools Act" and prohibits public schools from serving, selling, or allowing a third party to sell ultraprocessed food, as such term is defined in the act, on campus during the school day. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall post on its website a standardized form public schools may use to certify compliance with the provisions of the act, along with a list of each public school that has provided such certification of compliance to the Department. This act is identical to HB 2887 (2026) and SB 802 (2025). OLIVIA SHANNON
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
SCS/SB 909 - This act renames the "Missouri Student Religious Liberties Act" the "Missouri Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools (SPEAKS) Act". The act adds political and ideological expression to the current protections for public school students' religious expression. The act additionally prohibits discrimination against student clubs on the basis of their religious, political, or ideological viewpoints or any requirement that the members of the club adhere to the club's sincerely held beliefs, comply with the club's conduct standards, or further the club's mission, as such mission is defined by the club. This act shall not be construed to limit school districts' ability to restrict speech that is not protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; speech that is so offensive that a student is effectively denied equal access to educational opportunities; or conduct that intentionally, materially, and substantially disrupts school operations or the expressive activity of another individual in a campus space exclusively reserved for such activity. Any person or student organization harmed by a violation of this act shall have a private cause of action against the school, as described in the act. Any person or student organization aggrieved by a violation of this act may assert such violation as a defense or counterclaim in any disciplinary action or in any civil or administrative proceeding. The state waives immunity and consents to be sued in federal court for claims arising under this act. This act is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 2682 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2061 requires Missouri public schools and colleges to prohibit antisemitic harassment and discrimination as rigorously as racial discrimination. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 definition and mandates that schools integrate this into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and clarifies that the law does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal/state discrimination laws. This directly affects all public educational institutions in Missouri, requiring them to address antisemitic conduct that creates fear or impedes access to campus activities.
HB 2074 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver," providing public college tuition waivers for dependents of veterans who died in service, died from service-connected disabilities, or were certified as permanently and totally disabled by the VA. Eligible dependents include children, stepchildren, and spouses who are Missouri residents and meet age requirements (under 26, or up to 31 if they served in the military). The waiver covers remaining tuition after federal/state aid, administered by the Missouri Veterans' Commission, and applies to one community college degree followed by one bachelor's degree. It excludes concurrent use with other state veteran-dependent tuition programs.
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.
HB 2539 requires all Missouri public school districts, schools, and charter schools to publish standardized annual report cards online by specific deadlines, detailing student performance, finances, and staff data to meet federal requirements. It establishes a new A-F rating system based on student achievement (40% for K-8, 25% for high schools), academic growth metrics, and for high schools, a "Success Ready Graduate" measure tracking college credits, career credentials, or advanced exams. Top-performing schools in the top 5% for performance or growth receive performance-based funding ($100/student) starting after the 2026-27 assessments, with funds used for staff bonuses. The bill directly affects schools, parents, and taxpayers through transparent accountability measures and ties funding to specific, measurable outcomes.
