Education

HB 3238 requires school boards to publicly disclose financial conflicts of interest involving members, employees, and related parties for transactions over $500 annually, including business dealings with the school district. It mandates detailed written disclosures from school superintendents, administrators, and legal staff about their outside income, business ownership, and corporate ties. The bill also shifts the burden of proof to school districts in special education due process hearings under IDEA, requiring them to justify decisions about student evaluations or placements. Additionally, it prohibits school districts from hiring attorneys who employ school board members or employees for special education disputes.

SB 1648 creates the "Missouri Charter Public School Commission" within the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to oversee charter schools. The commission, consisting of nine governor-appointed members with limits on political party representation and congressional districts, will review and approve new charter school applications and manage their sponsorship. Key mechanisms include establishing a dedicated "Charter Public School Commission Revolving Fund" for administrative costs, requiring members to have education expertise, and mandating that charter schools comply with existing state charter school laws. The bill directly affects charter schools seeking sponsorship and the state education department's oversight structure.

HB 3373 creates a dedicated liaison position within the state's Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to support homeless students pursuing college. The bill establishes a dedicated fund to finance this role and requires the liaison to develop resources tracking homeless students' academic progress, connect them with campus support services (like housing and financial aid), and build databases of community resources like food banks. It directly affects homeless and unaccompanied youth enrolled in state colleges by improving access to tailored support systems. The liaison must collaborate with high schools and colleges to identify students and coordinate services, all funded through a non-reverting state fund.

HB 3485 allows students attending private, home, or full-time virtual schools to participate in public school sports, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities if their own school does not offer those specific activities. Public schools must permit this participation without requiring students to attend public school classes or enroll in the public school. Students must provide residency proof, pass physicals for sports, follow the same conduct rules, and pay the same fees as public school students. The bill prohibits public schools from creating separate disciplinary or attendance rules for these students and prevents them from blocking participation based on a student’s school type.

SB 1778 requires public schools to incorporate personal finance education into their curriculum. It directly affects all public school students by mandating that schools teach topics such as budgeting, saving, and debt management. The key provision establishes a general requirement for schools to include this education, though the abstract does not specify exact grade levels or detailed content. This policy change applies to all public school districts and educators responsible for implementing the curriculum.

HB 3359 creates a tax credit allowing Missouri taxpayers to reduce their state income tax by 20% of qualifying donations to STEAM or robotics programs in local K-12 schools, with a maximum annual credit of $50,000 per taxpayer. Eligible donations include cash, educational materials, or up to 200 hours of employee time per year (valued at the employee's hourly wage). The program is capped at $10 million in total credits annually, and unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years. This initiative, set to expire after six years unless renewed, requires schools to register with the state and mandates annual reporting on program participation and costs.

HB 3149 modifies Missouri county sales tax rules to specifically direct revenue from certain local sales taxes toward early childhood education. It requires counties seeking to fund early childhood education through new sales taxes to obtain voter approval via ballot measure, with the tax rate limited to a combined maximum of 1.5% after 2025. The bill mandates that any revenue collected for this purpose must be deposited into the dedicated early childhood education fund and managed under existing rules (Section 67.5420). This directly affects Missouri counties considering new local sales taxes for education, as well as voters who must approve such tax proposals. The bill does not create new taxes but changes how existing county sales tax authority can be allocated.

SB 1567 - This act establishes the "Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program" to provide standardized driver education instruction and training for pupils in grades 9-12. The program shall include instruction on the safe operation of motor vehicles, the rules of the road, and applicable motor vehicle laws, including Missouri's driver licensing system. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall receive and review sample instructional lessons from recognized statewide professional organizations and school districts and shall make approved sample lessons available to school districts and charter schools. Beginning with the 2027–28 school year, school districts and charter schools may implement a plan adopting the program and may utilize the sample lessons provided by DESE. The program shall promote knowledge, attitudes, habits, and skills necessary for safe driving; address distracted driving as a significant traffic safety concern; explain law enforcement procedures during traffic stops; and provide current data regarding risky driving behaviors. Districts may require pupil participation in program-related lessons within existing courses, as provided in the act. The program shall not require pupils to physically operate a motor vehicle; nor shall the program be construed to prohibit school districts or charter schools from offering other elective driver education courses. This act is substantially similar to HB 2195 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON

HB 2721, the "Success for Homeless and Foster Youth in Higher Education Act," requires Missouri public colleges and universities to appoint a dedicated liaison in their financial aid offices to assist homeless and foster youth with financial aid applications and support services. The bill mandates that the state create and maintain a public directory of these liaisons and allows institutions to grant resident status to homeless or foster youth under 19, regardless of how long they've lived in Missouri, if they were homeless in the two years prior to enrollment. Additionally, it requires institutions to develop housing plans prioritizing homeless and foster youth for housing placement and ensuring access to facilities open year-round. This law directly affects vulnerable students aged under 25 who are homeless or in foster care, aiming to reduce barriers to higher education access.

This bill modifies Missouri county sales tax rules to allow local governments to fund early childhood education services. It requires counties seeking to impose an additional sales tax (up to 1.5% after 2025 for qualifying counties) to first obtain voter approval via a specific ballot measure. Revenue collected from such taxes must be deposited exclusively into the early childhood education fund, as defined in Section 67.5420. The bill also sets population-based rate limits and prohibits using these taxes for other purposes like zoological facilities or sports stadiums.