Bills Proposed in the Missouri Legislature

House

HB 1608, 1672, 1854, 2033 — Ends a sunset clause, which would make restrictions on prescribing sex change hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to individuals under 18 and participating in sporting events by transgendered women in women’s sporting events permanent. Such prescriptions given prior to August 28th, 2023 would no longer be considered valid. Three other House bills, 1607, 1663, and 1973 would allow female students to participate in athletic competitions designed for male students if no corresponding competition for female students is offered, such as baseball or football.

HB 1667, 2294 — Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act. Makes it illegal for a provider to harm a baby that survives a failed abortion. Sets such acts as First Degree Murder. (Rep. Brian Seitz)

HB 1908, 2337 — Allows pregnant women to file for divorce. (Rep. Ceceile Williams, Rep. Raychel Proudie)

HB 1940 — Increases the time a successor publication can form and claim legal status from a defunct newspaper from 30 days to 90 days. Reduces the time that a new newspaper can claim legal status from three years to one. Newspapers that already satisfy these conditions can purchase an existing paper or establish a new paper and immediately qualify. (Rep. Peggy McGaugh)

HB 2230 — Limits digital instruction for students from grades K through 5th grade to 45 minutes in schools. Requires cursive handwriting instruction in second grade. Technology cannot be the primary mode of instruction in reading, math, handwriting, science lessons, or social studies. At least 70% of assignments would be required to be completed using pen and paper. Schools could not rely exclusively on digital textbooks or reading platforms. This law would take effect at the start of the 2027-28 school year. (Rep. Tricia Byrns)

HB 2278 — Requires the Missouri State High School Activities Association to be overseen by a five-member board of directors appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate. It would also apply to any such high school activities association established in the state, such as the FFA.  A similar bill, SB 863 (Sen. Jason Bean) is also being considered in the Senate. (Rep. Bennie Cook)

HB 2686 — Would exempt sales of used tangible personal property at auction from sales and use tax, with specified exclusions for titled motor vehicles, trailers, boats, and outboard motors.

HB 2748 — Would expand physical activity requirements in public schools by requiring students in grades K-12 to participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily, expand recess requirements to all grade levels, and require at least one 20-minute recess period.

HB 2859 — Would exempt certain tangible personal property, including farm machinery and motor vehicles, from personal property taxation. This bill is subject to voter approval.

HJR 154 — Establishes work requirements for Missouri Medicaid. The original bill required recipients to prove their employment for three months preceding application or review; the substitute requires one month. This measure is subject to voter approval.

Senate

SB 893 — Establishes the crime of grooming a minor for sexual purposes. Applies to someone who is 18 or older and engages in a pattern of conduct with at least one overtly sexual act directed towards a person who is under 18. Also establishes the offense of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images and making a threat of disseminating such images and removes the requirement that the victim be at least 18. (Sen. Jill Carter)

SB 969 — Keeps high-risk sex offenders away from schools and school events regardless of parental status even if their child is enrolled at the school or participating in the activity in question. (Sen. Travis Fitzwater)

SB 982 — Requires anyone who has committed a tier one, two, or three sexual offense since 1979 to register as a sex offender. (Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman)

SB 1004 — The Angel Investor Incentive Act. Allows investors to claim a tax credit worth 40% of their investment in a qualified business, or 50% if it is located in a rural county. No individual can get more than $75,000. Individual investors can give no more than $300,000. The total program is limited to $6 million for the first two years. The bill has a sunset clause in 2033. (Sen. Kurtis Gregory)

SB 1067 — Protects speakers at public meetings against meritless lawsuits, also known as Anti-SLAPP. Provides for dismissal of such cases if the person was communicating during an official proceeding, communicating on an issue under consideration or review, and exercising their 1st Amendment right to free speech. (Sen. Mike Henderson)

Iowa

The House passed a bill 64-28 that would block companies from using eminent domain to build carbon sequestration pipelines in Iowa. The measure proceeds to the Senate for further consideration. (Successful Farming)

Federal

House Ag Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig filed a bill she says would provide more than $17 billion in relief to farmers from the tariffs. This is in addition to the relief the Trump Administration already announced. It would provide $11.5 billion for one-time payments to row crop farmers, $5 billion in one-time payments to specialty crop farmers, $330 million for one-time payments to sugar beet producers, and $520 million to forest producers.