Legislative Update - 2026, Week 8

STATE AND LOCAL TAX LIMITS

The House approved HCS/HJR 169 (Jim Murphy) on February 26. The joint resolution contains restrictions that would permanently constrain the ability of the state and local governments to function, respond to emergencies, and meet core obligations. The measure also allows lawsuits for alleged violations of these restrictions and creates refund mechanisms that will produce fiscal instability. The Association opposes the measure.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION

The House perfected HCS/HBs 2097 & 1905 (John Martin) on February 25. The bill would expand the current agricultural education pilot program to be a statewide program for all participating elementary schools. The Association supports the bill.

TEACHER RECIPROCITY

The House approved HB 2274 (Ed Lewis) on February 26. The bill would adopt the "Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact". Thirteen states have already adopted the compact. Missouri already has broad teacher certification reciprocity with other states. Adopting the compact would apply additional baseline standards for certification reciprocity with fellow compact states. Eligible licenses, other than career and technical licenses, must require at least a bachelor's degree and the completion of a state-approved program for teacher licensure. The Association supports the bill.

STUDENT POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL EXPRESSION

The House approved HCS/HB 2682 (Darin Chappell) on February 26. The bill would expand current law pertaining to student religious liberties to also apply to all student political and ideological expressions. The Association is concerned that the inclusion of authority to file private lawsuits over political and ideological expression will divert school resources to costly and time-consuming lawsuits and make it harder to attract and retain educators. The Association opposes the bill.

HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee heard three bills on February 25:

HB 2195 (Roger Reedy) would require public schools to offer a driver education course that students must complete before graduating.

HB 2396 (Bob Bromley) would modify provisions relating to teacher retirement and working after retirement. The bill allows retired PSRS teachers to work any amount while continuing to receive their monthly pension. The Systems have estimated that the bill would increase the PSRS actuarial liability by up to $300 million and raise the PSRS total contribution rate by up to 2.45%. The Association opposes the bill due to the increased cost to the PSRS System and the potential for increased contribution rates.      

HB 2502 (Ann Kelley) would require that when a charter school closes, the student records for the school must be transferred to the school district in which the charter is located for archival purposes. DESE is also required to provide a process for nonpublic schools to file transcripts and other student records with a repository if the nonpublic school closes. The Association supports the bill.

The committee also approved two bills:

HCS/HBs 2913 & 3228 (Bill Irwin) would provide teachers with immunity if the teacher intervenes in an incident involving violence or defends themself at school. The Association supports the bills.

HCS/HB 3239 (Josh Hurlbert) would move the current state adult virtual high school program into the Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP). The HCS limits funding for the adult virtual high school program to $4 million.

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee heard four bills on February 24:

SB 1617 (Rick Brattin) would prohibit the allocation of state funds for certain low-earning outcome academic degree programs as defined in federal law.

SB 1121 (Curtis Trent) would create a new higher education funding policy and revise the Bright Flight Scholarship.

SB 1130 (Jill Carter) would prohibit state colleges and universities from employing individuals or engaging contractors who hold H-1B nonimmigrant status.

SB 967 (Angela Mosley) would establish the Black History Education and Awareness Act, designate the first week in February as Black History Week, and mandate specific topics for instruction regarding black history in the United States.

The committee also approved three bills:

SCS/SBs 1653 & 1194 (Curtis Trent) would create an A-F school report card for public schools based primarily on state-mandated, standardized tests. The Association believes this measure would undermine local control and opposes the bill.

SB 1404 (Rick Brattin) requires school districts and charter schools to notify parents about the use of tutoring programs or services at least half-owned by entities outside the United States.

SCS/SB 1383 (Barbara Washington) would expand the current agricultural education pilot program to be a statewide program for all participating elementary schools. The SCS is the same as HCS/HBs 2097 & 1905 (John Martin). The Association supports the bill.

HOUSE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMITTEE

The committee heard the following bills on February 24:

HB 1792 (Jim Murphy) would require DESE to create a media literacy and critical thinking pilot program. The program will address media literacy, develop strategies for student learning in classroom curricula, and demonstrate various literacy strategies used. The Association supports the bill.

HB 2426 (Ben Keathley) would enact new law regarding parental rights in the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children. The Association is concerned that the bill includes new authority to file private lawsuits against schools over alleged violations of these new provisions. The Association recommends adopting the language of HB 1787 (Ed Lewis) regarding parental and educator rights.

PROPERTY TAXES

The House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform met on February 24 and approved separate versions of two bills that had been sent to the House floor as a combined bill and returned to committee last week. The committee approved HCS#2/HB 2780 (Tim Taylor) and HCS#2/HB 2668 (Ben Keathley). Neither bill would include new construction in reassessment rollback calculations. Key provisions in HCS#2/HB 2780 include reassessment rollback by property class and lowering the minimum school levy from $2.75 to $2.20.
HCS#2/HB 2668 requires all local levy elections to be held on November election dates. The Association opposes this latter provision.

The House finally approved HB 1790 (Jim Murphy) regarding approval of tax levies on February 23. The bill revises labeling of local ballot issues, documentation of projected cost per $100,000 value, and duration and adjustment of approved levy increases.

The House also approved HB 2178 (Chad Perkins) regarding assessment of property on February 23. A key provision would limit assessment increases to fifteen percent during a reassessment cycle. The House amended additional provisions regarding local ballot issues and approval of tax levies that resemble provisions in HB 1790.

SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FILING

The House Elections Committee heard HB 1987 (Dave Hinman) on February 24. The bill would change the filing window for school board candidates by moving both the starting and ending dates one week later. The result would be a filing window that extends from mid-December to the first week of January.

RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

The House Emerging Issues Committee approved HCS/HB 3005 (Doyle Justus) on February 25. The bill requires public library boards and school boards to have a policy governing the reconsideration of materials in a public library or public-school library. The bill includes general provisions regarding requests for reconsideration, appeals, and options for removal or relocation. The bill also includes employment protections for librarians who refuse to remove or relocate items before the items have been reviewed under the policy.

TRANSGENDER ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION

The House approved HCS/HBs 1663, 1607, and 1973 (Brian Seitz) on February 26. The bill would remove the current sunset provision and permanently override MSHSAA and higher education institution policies on transgender participation. Since the legislature enacted the current law three years ago, international and national sport associations have adopted more restrictive policies regarding transgender athlete participation, rendering the state law symbolic. The Association believes that educators should continue to establish the policies and procedures that govern the activities of Missouri students who participate in school activities.

Read past issues of the Legislative Update at www.mnea.org/legupdate.