HB 3370 requires courts to offer treatment court programs for first-time felony offenders with substance use disorders before they enter a plea. Upon completing the program, pending charges are dismissed (after paying associated costs), and the bill explicitly prohibits treatment courts from barring participants from medication-assisted treatment for opioid or substance misuse. It also establishes procedures for transferring participants between jurisdictions and ensures participation in medication-assisted treatment cannot violate program terms. The bill directly affects eligible offenders in criminal cases seeking substance use disorder treatment instead of traditional sentencing.
HB 3269 updates Missouri's Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board to improve data collection and analysis of maternal deaths. The bill expands the board to 22 members with mandatory diversity requirements, including representation from each congressional district and across racial, ethnic, and rural/urban groups. It requires the board to review all maternal deaths (defined as deaths during pregnancy or within one year postpartum, regardless of cause), identify factors like racial disparities and "maternity care deserts" (counties lacking adequate maternity services), and collect specific data on prenatal/postnatal care. The board must produce annual reports with disaggregated data by race, ethnicity, and location, and share recommendations to reduce maternal mortality with policymakers and the public.
HB 3352 modifies Missouri's physician licensure rules to create two new license types. It allows temporary licenses (up to 12 months) for physicians teaching/lecturing in accredited Missouri medical programs, and transitional licenses (up to 3 years) for physicians with lapsed licenses (after ≤10 years) or foreign-trained physicians certified by ECFMG. Both require meeting most permanent licensure standards but allow waivers for specific experience, and applicants must pass the SPEX exam if required. The bill explicitly prohibits using these licenses for general temporary medical work ("locum tenens"). It does not change standard licensure pathways for most physicians.
HB 3379 updates Missouri's laws protecting vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect in adult day care settings. It requires staff, healthcare workers, and others with reasonable cause to believe abuse or neglect occurred to immediately report it to the Department of Health and Senior Services, with failure to report punishable as a misdemeanor. The bill defines key terms like "financial exploitation" and "neglect" and establishes penalties for concealment of abuse causing serious harm or death (a class E felony). This directly affects adult day care providers, their staff, and vulnerable participants (functionally impaired adults over 18).
HB 3509 prohibits licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists and counselors) from performing conversion therapy on minors. The bill defines conversion therapy as any practice seeking to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity, excluding supportive counseling that accepts a minor’s identity or addresses unsafe behaviors without attempting change. This prohibition is added as a specific reason for disciplinary action against license holders under the state’s licensing regulations. The law directly affects minors receiving mental health services and licensed practitioners who may face penalties for violating this provision.
SB 1735 establishes Missouri's Sickle Cell Standing Committee within the Department of Health and Senior Services. The committee, composed of a physician chair, individuals with sickle cell disease, researchers, and representatives from health organizations, will assess sickle cell disease impacts in urban communities, examine existing services, and develop school education recommendations. It must hold public meetings in three urban regions, submit a final report to lawmakers and the governor by December 31, 2027, and continue annual meetings thereafter to track progress and update recommendations. This bill directly affects Missouri residents living with sickle cell disease and the state agencies managing related health services.
HB 3458 establishes an "Interstate Massage Compact" to allow licensed massage therapists to practice across participating states using a single license. Therapists would need to pass a nationally recognized exam (like the Massage and Bodywork Licensure Examination) and undergo background checks, with states sharing disciplinary records through a new Interstate Commission. The compact aims to increase therapist mobility, improve public safety through shared enforcement data, and support military families relocating between states. States retain full authority to regulate massage therapy within their borders under this agreement.
SB 1680 modifies Missouri's rules for SNAP (food stamp) eligibility for individuals convicted of felony offenses involving controlled substances. It allows these individuals to qualify for SNAP benefits if they meet four specific conditions: (1) participating in or completing an approved substance abuse treatment program, (2) complying with court and treatment obligations, (3) avoiding new substance-related offenses within one year, and (4) providing documented sobriety through voluntary urinalysis testing. The bill requires applicants to provide evidence of compliance to the Department of Social Services, which will work with the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse to establish implementation rules. This change exempts eligible individuals from a federal disqualification that previously barred them from SNAP benefits after such convictions.
HB 3450 requires health insurance plans sold in the state to cover specific preventive health services without cost-sharing (like copays or deductibles) starting January 1, 2026. It mandates coverage for services rated A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended vaccinations, and other preventive care outlined in federal guidelines from the Health Resources and Services Administration. This applies directly to health insurers and plans operating in the state, though it allows cost-sharing for out-of-network providers and makes exceptions for high-deductible health plans under federal rules. The law ties coverage requirements to current federal guidelines, with updates to be adopted by the state insurance director based on new federal recommendations.
HB 3169 requires Missouri's Medicaid program (MO HealthNet) to cover doula services for eligible pregnant women, including support during prenatal care, childbirth, and the postpartum year. It expands existing coverage by allowing doula attendance at scheduled cesarean sections and increasing covered support sessions from six to sixteen total. The bill also mandates that all private health insurance plans in Missouri must cover doula services starting January 1, 2027, with exceptions for supplemental policies like accident-only or short-term plans. This directly affects pregnant and postpartum individuals enrolled in MO HealthNet or private insurance, ensuring access to nonmedical support from trained doulas.
