Bills in the Missouri Legislature for March 4th, 2026

House

Bentley’s Law — A bill being considered in the Missouri Legislature would require people convicted of DWI to pay child support if their drunk driving killed the parent or parents of a child. On April 13th, 2021, David Thurby (26) was involved in a fiery crash in Jefferson County that resulted in the deaths of Cordell Williams (30), Lacey Newton (25), and Cordell Williams II (4 months). Mr. Thurby was convicted of three counts of Involuntary Manslaughter in 2023. Six other states have passed similar laws. As a result, two children are orphaned and are being raised by their grandmother.

HB 1643, 1717 — Legalizes psilocybin for mental health treatment purposes and allows it to be prescribed by licensed physicians. (Rep. Matthew Overcast, Rep. Richard West)

HB 1792 — Establishes a two-year pilot program through the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to teach media literacy and critical thinking. DESE would select 5-7 school districts to integrate media literacy skills into classroom instruction and report back to lawmakers. Students would learn to analyze news content, recognize bias, understand digital citizenship, and identify misinformation.

HB 1905, 2097 — Authorizes the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to make an agriculture education pilot project into a statewide program. Participation by schools would be voluntary and not required. Schools would implement it at their own expense or from existing streams of funding. (Rep. John Martin, Rep. Adrian Plank)

HB 2034 — Requires the Mo HealthNet program, health carriers, and other health benefit plans to cover at least three devices for multiple uses. (Rep. Carolyn Caton)

HB 2167 — Allows Attorney General appointed investigators to make arrests and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies. Also extends the power to House and Senate security guards. Such officers would have to go through the same training any other Peace Officers go through. (Rep. Dolan David)

HB 2202 — Makes hunting and fishing permits free for military personnel and disabled veterans. Dependents would get the same benefit. (Rep. Don Mayhew)

HB 2874 — Prevents air ambulance companies from selling memberships to recipients of Medicaid. Life flights are already covered by Mo HealthNet. (Rep. Bill Allen)

HB 3362, 3364 — Requires permits for certain levels of utility use and subjects large-load customers like data centers to different payment rules. Requires large water customers which use over 2 million gallons of freshwater or 80% or more of the available water capacity of a given locality to get a permit from the DNR. Customers above the large loan threshold would be required to pay an increased rate. If permit holders far exceed the minimum use for a permit, they would be required to cover the costs to build additional infrastructure. (Rep. Collin Wellenkamp, Rep. Mike Costlow)

Senate

SB 854, 1494 — Automates record expungement for eligible nonviolent offenders. Currently, eligible defendants must petition the court. The new bill would automatically expunge certain low-level offenses after a period of one to three years. (Sen. Brian Williams, Sen. Nick Schroer)

SB 859 — Declares that AI systems are not considered people. All harm caused by an AI would be considered the responsibility of the owner or user of that system. (Sen. Mike Moon)

SB 889 — Investigators who handle cases of child abuse, elder abuse, or domestic abuse will receive training to identify signs of animal abuse under this bill. Animal control officers and others who investigate animal cruelty would be trained to recognize warning signs of abuse against people. If an investigator uncovers evidence of a different type of abuse while responding to a case, they would be required to report it. (Sen. Tracy McCreery)

SB 928 — Expands the definition of Stalking to allow police to act based on victims’ fears rather than wait until a violent or dangerous act occurs. (Sen. Patty Lewis)

SB 1012 — Requires a disclaimer for any use of AI in political advertisements. Makes it a Class A Misdemeanor if such a disclaimer is missing. (Sen. Joe Nicola)

SB 1043, 1150 — Establishes the offense of Masked Intimidation. A person can be charged if they use their face covering to conceal their identity while harassing, threatening, or intimidating another person or group. A person cannot be charged if the covering in question is used for religious, medical, celebratory, occupational, or weather-related reasons. The law cannot be construed to diminish or infringe on First Amendment rights. According to FBI statistics, 44.2% of hate crimes in Missouri in 2021 were classified as intimidation. (Sen. Barbara Washington)

SB 1094 — Modifies legal notices for all elections. County clerks would have the option of mailing a legal notice to each registered voter in the jurisdiction. If they do that, they only have to public election notices once. Currently, counties publish ballots in local papers twice. In the case of any bond election, if the election is not contested within 30 days after the official announcement of the election results, then all conditions of the state election law will be deemed to be satisfied. (Sen. Cindy Crawford)

SB 1617 — Prohibits state funds from going to “low-earning” degrees. It would apply to fields where graduates from a college do not earn more than someone with only a high school diploma in the same field. (Sen. Rick Brattin)

Federal

Homes for American Families Act. Prohibits large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, townhouses, and condominiums. Empowers the Justice Department with enforcement authority for civil violations and prioritized antitrust review for purchases of residential real estate by large institutional investors. (Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Jeff Merkley)

 

Bills in the Missouri Legislature for February 25th, 2026

House

HB 1682 — Requires equal protection and justice under the law “from the beginning of biological development” for unborn fetuses. Also SB 951.

HB 1817 — Requires public assistance programs to report data, including the total number of households enrolled, the total number of people served, the average benefit in dollars received, and the number of households that became ineligible to receive benefits. Applies to cities, villages, towns, and counties with more than 1,000 residents.

HB 2170 — Requires children under 3 years of age to be secured in a rear-facing child restraint. Violation would result in a fine of not more than $50 plus costs.

HB 2189 — Allows car owners to register their vehicles for up to five years. Only cars six years old or newer would be eligible. Owners must still have a paid personal property tax receipt or a certificate that no taxes are due, proof of insurance, and proof of inspection. There would be no discount for a five-year registration. (Rep. Bob Bromley)

HB 2206 — Requires scrap and auto dealers to keep more records of catalytic converter purchases, including the make, model, year, and vehicle identification number of the source. Expands Missouri’s existing salvage dealer license requirements to those trading detached catalytic converters, placing them under the supervision of the Missouri Department of Revenue. Requires photographic documentation of sales, including pictures of sellers, products, and source vehicles. If passed, it will be a Class E Felony to possess with intent to sell a catalytic converter known to be stolen.

HB 2641 — Makes intoxicating Hemp products illegal. (Rep. Dave Hinman). Passed the Missouri House 109-34.

HB 2761 — Eliminates all solid waste districts in Missouri. Also Senate Bill 1586.

HB 2780 — Changes how property taxes are calculated and when property tax measures are voted on. Would have changed when voters approve property tax levies from April to November.

HB 2819 — Allows vendors to round down cash transactions ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 and round up cash transactions ending in 2, 4, 8, or 9. (Rep. Brenda Shields). Also being considered under SB 1620.

HB 2989 — Legalizes and regulates gaming machines. Establishes a centralized regulatory, licensing, and taxing system for such machines. Passed the House 83-66 and moves to the Senator for further consideration. Gives local municipalities more control over the level of enforcement and allows them to ban the machines. A tax on the revenue from such machines would go to elementary, secondary, and higher education schools. Machines currently in operation would be allowed to operate through August 2027 if owners submit the machines’ full financial, installation, and maintenance records to the Lottery Commission and Attorney General for review.

HB 3146 — Increases the number of words a summary statement in a ballot measure can contain from 50 to 100. Grants the Secretary of State the ability to rewrite summary statements three times before a judge could rewrite the bill. Currently, if a court finds that a ballot summary does not accurately represent the measure, it is up to the judge to rewrite the language.

HB 3170 — Removes the restrictions on the purchase of hospitals in 25 rural counties. Would allow MU Health Care to purchase health care facilities in counties surrounding Columbia.

HJR 3 -- On Friday, a judge struck three bullet points from the ballot summary for this measure, which would make it more difficult for Missouri voters to approve changes to the Constitution. Currently, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments require a simply majority. If approved, constitutional amendments must pass in all eight congressional districts. The judge ruled that the bullet points constituted "eye candy," which distracted from the true purpose of the measure. Subject to voter approval. Governor Mike Kehoe has not set an election date for this measure.

HJR 104, 122, and 149 — Removes the eight-year term limit for each legislative chamber, but keeps the 16 year cap for both chambers. Prohibits representatives from serving as Speaker of the House for more than six years and senators from serving as President Pro Tem for more than eight. Would take effect in 2030. Subject to voter approval.

HJR 109 — The Fetal Personhood Amendment. If passed by the legislature and the Missouri voters, would clarify that personhood starts at conception. Overturns the voter-approved amendment legalizing abortion in Missouri. Also SJR 72.

HJR 154 — The Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements Bill. Passed the House 101-46. Subject to approval by the Senate and then voters.

Senate

SB 919 — Caps property tax assessment increases at 15% and limits growth of homeowners’ taxes.  Does not apply to new additions or expansions to property or voter-approved levies. (Sen. Joe Nicola)

SB 1070 — Allows “certified bounty hunters” to detain undocumented immigrants. If such an arrest were made, punishment could be life imprisonment or transfer to ICE custody.

SB 1238 — Public and charter school teachers would be required to provide instruction on the positive impacts of religion on American history. Provides a list of 19 events and figures that would become a part of required teaching in American History classes.

Governor Mike Kehoe

On Thursday, Governor Mike Kehoe will proclaim National FFA Week in Missouri.

Iowa

HF 2117 -- Would provide funding to retrofit up to 100 existing private wells with groundwater monitoring equipment.

HF 2447 -- Requires data centers to submit regular reports on their water and energy use and to not pass their water/energy usage costs onto other customers.

HF 2527 -- Would limit the ability to sue Big Ag for greenhouse gas emissions.

 

 

Bill Would Cut Red Tape for Patient Care

On Thursday, the Missouri House third read and passed HB 618, sponsored by State Representative Melanie Stinnett, with a vote of 148-4. The bill aims to ensure that Missourians receive timely medical care without unnecessary delays by reducing hurdles to the process of prior authorizations. HB 618 would make it easier for patients to get timely care needs met starting January 1, 2026.

Healthcare providers and hospitals with a strong track record of 90% or more approvals won’t need pre-approval for most services. High-performing hospitals can skip the hassle if they meet quality standards, join value-based care agreements, or maintain high approval rates.

Exceptions include costly pharmacy or imaging services over $100K, non-essential cosmetic procedures, and experimental treatments.

Patients switching to new health plans also gain a 90-day grace period for previously approved medications, ensuring continuity of care. “This bill is a step in the right direction for quality patient care,” stated Rep. Stinnett, R-Springfield. “By removing the barrier of prior authorization in some instances, we can ensure that patients are getting access to the healthcare they need when they need it.”

HB 618 excludes Missouri’s Medicaid program, except for Medicaid managed care organizations, and would not apply to providers new to a health plan or those operating beyond their licensed scope.

Now that HB 618 has passed out of the House, it heads to the Missouri Senate for review.

House Passes Bill to Ease Requirements for School Bus Drivers

By State Rep. Danny Busick’s Office

The Missouri House of Representatives this week approved HB 1626, a measure aimed at addressing the shortage of school bus drivers by modifying the existing regulations for individuals aged 77 and older with school bus endorsements on their driver's licenses.

Under current law, individuals aged 70 and older face annual license renewal, waived fees, mandatory yearly school bus license examinations, and the issuance of a commercial driver's license with a school bus endorsement on an annual basis. HB 1626 seeks to increase the age threshold for these provisions to 77 or older.

The bill reflects a bipartisan effort to streamline the process for senior citizens willing to contribute to their communities as school bus drivers. Supporters argue that the change will alleviate the burden on retired individuals and encourage more participation in the essential role of school bus driving.

Speaking on the House floor, the bill sponsor, Rep. Danny Busick, emphasized that local school officials are better positioned to assess an individual's fitness for the role of a school bus driver, advocating for a more flexible approach rather than a one-size-fits-all legislative mandate.

“Our current statutes are discriminate against experienced drivers, not based on ability, but based on age alone,” Busick, R-Newtown, said. “With this bill, we are opening up an available labor pool for drivers in communities throughout Missouri."

“The passage of HB 1626 is a testament to the House's commitment to finding practical solutions to pressing issues,” House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, said. “Adjusting regulations for senior citizens with school bus endorsements not only addresses the current shortage but also opens doors for experienced individuals who wish to play a vital role in our communities."

The emergency clause included in HB 1626 underscores the urgency of addressing the shortage of school bus drivers in the state. This clause allows for swift implementation of the new provisions, demonstrating the legislature's commitment to prompt action.

The bill will now proceed to the Missouri Senate for further consideration. If passed into law, HB 1626 is poised to make a positive impact on the recruitment and retention of school bus drivers, ensuring the safe transportation of students across the state.

Representative Danny Busick, a Republican, represents the counties of Sullivan, Mercer, Putnam and the western part of Adair (District 3) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2018. For more information, please contact Rep. Busick’s office at 573-751-3647 or by email at Danny.Busick@House.Mo.Gov.

House Passes Bill to Address Rising Motor Vehicle Assessments

By Rep. Mike McGirl’s Office

The Missouri House has approved HB 2430, a bill sponsored by Representative Mike McGirl, which addresses concerns over the rising assessed values of motor vehicles. The legislation proposes adjustments to personal property assessment procedures, aligning them more closely with real estate practices, with the ultimate goal of potentially lowering personal property taxes for Missouri residents.

Under the current assessment procedures, determining the value of new construction or improvements to real property includes adding the assessed value of all improvements or additions initiated after the prior year's assessment. The bill specifically tackles the recent anomaly in vehicle value assessments by stipulating that any increase in value from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Official Used Car Guide from the previous year shall not be counted as new construction for personal property.

"This bill is a critical step towards addressing the challenges posed by the substantial increases in assessed values of motor vehicles in recent years,” Rep. McGirl, R-Potosi, said. “By aligning personal property assessment procedures with real estate practices, we aim to create a fairer and more accurate representation of property values, providing potential relief for our residents."

The proposed changes in HB 2430 would have a direct impact on Missouri’s property taxes. By incorporating personal property tax calculations into the rate levy certification process, the bill seeks to mitigate the effects of increased property values. When property evaluations rise, the levy is expected to decrease, thereby offsetting some of the property tax burdens on residents.

"Since January 2021, consumer prices, including vehicles, have increased 18% because of President Biden’s handling of the economy. Representative McGirl's  legislation seeks to address the dynamics of this inflationary cycle by adjusting the assessment procedures to adapt to changing property values. Property tax relief is a priority of the Majority Republican Caucus and we remain committed to delivering tax relief to Missourians,” House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, said.

As HB 2430 progresses through the legislative process, further examination and consideration of its potential impact on taxpayers will be crucial. The bill now moves to the Missouri Senate for further deliberation and review.

Representative Mike McGirl, a Republican, represents Franklin and Washington counties (District 118) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2018. 

At Least 31 Transgender, Sexual Orientation Bills Filed in Missouri Legislature

BY DMITRY MARTIROSOV

Missouri News Network

A slew of transgender bills are still awaiting action in the Missouri General Assembly, but many of the proposals have already begun to impact the LGBTQ community, lawmakers and providers said.

At least 31 bills that have been filed are aimed at the LGBTQ community. The bills seek to curb anything from transgender participation in sports different from birth gender to preventing transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming health care to banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity by public and charter school teachers and other officials.

Of the bills, eight — four in each chamber — aim to ban access to gender-affirming medical care to anyone under 18 and prohibit health care providers from offering referrals for other physicians. Doctors who violate these provisions, the bills state, would be subject to disciplinary measures such as losing their license.

Although none of the bills have passed either chamber, Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, believes harm has already been done.

“I don’t think that these bills need to pass to affect trans youth in Missouri,” Aune said. “Just by proposing the legislation and talking about it so openly ... that has such a devastating effect in and of itself.”

Aune was one of six Democrats present at the much-discussed, nine-hour public hearing in the House General Laws Committee on Jan. 24, when eight bills seeking to restrict certain LGBTQ rights were heard. She alluded to the fact that Missouri is one of the leading states with the most pre-filed LGBTQ-restrictive bills, trailing only Oklahoma, with 34.

“When the Missouri legislature makes headlines for targeting marginalized communities, those communities feel it whether the law passes or not,” Aune said. “Because what we’re doing is getting a permission structure to our constituents to discriminate against an entire group.”

Figures, preliminary impacts

Currently, in Missouri, an estimated 12,400 people 13 and older identify as transgender, according to a 2022 study by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Law. Of those, an estimated 2,900 are transgender youth ages 13 to 17.

Although Missouri’s transgender youth population has increased only by an estimated 400 people in the past five years, the nation’s population, in comparison, has more than doubled, growing from roughly 150,000 transgender youths in 2017 to more than 300,000 in 2022, according to the Williams Institute.

Regardless of whether any bills pass, this budding population is already feeling the impacts, said Anthony Banks, a licensed social worker and a clinical therapist with the Counseling Hub, a Columbia-based counseling service.

“There is a multitude of research that shows the relationship between an adolescent teen’s access to gender-affirming health care, activities and overall perceived support, and their mental health,” Banks said.

“There’s always an increased risk of anxiety, depression, gender dysphoria, self-harming behaviors, suicidality and general feelings of hopelessness when there’s lower support, whether that support is familial or in the community,” he said.

Banks, whose caseload consists of 50% LGBTQ clients, added that after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving states the authority to determine whether women would have the power to choose whether to have an abortion, he saw a shift in his clients’ demeanor.

“I noticed clients being more concerned with a possibility of gender-affirming services becoming more limited as well as LGBTQ+ rights overall,” he said. “I believe this concern has only continued.”

Banks noted that when lawmakers create legislation that acts as a barrier to health care, the message often is that “people will stand in their way, and that they cannot be themselves.”

These adverse effects are amplified by a recent poll by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization that sampled more than 700 LGBTQ youth.

The poll found that 86% of trans and nonbinary youth say that debates around these bills have a negative impact on their mental health. The poll also found that 45% of trans and nonbinary youth report being cyberbullied or experiencing online harassment, 42% stopped speaking to a family member or relative, and 29% feel unsafe going to a doctor when feeling sick or injured — all a result of these debates.

Law and differing opinions

Under Missouri law, as outlined in the state’s physician manual, gender reassignment surgeries are not covered by MO HealthNet. That means that even if transgender people were to seek gender-affirming health care, they would likely have no other option than to pay out of pocket.

Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, said physicians in Missouri don’t perform these types of procedures.

“No one does surgery on minors,” Razer said. “It’s just not something that’s done.”

He added that since insurance doesn’t cover these medical procedures, it remains too costly for people to pay for privately.

But Rep. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, sponsor of HB 419, one of the eight bills heard in the Jan. 24 hearing, pushed back.

“How (does he) know that?” Hudson said. “That’s been a question I’ve been asking.”

As one of the most outspoken opponents in the General Assembly regarding LGBTQ-restrictive legislation, Razer, the only openly gay senator in Missouri, believes that some of these bills stem from “sheer ignorance.”

“I mean that in the literal term,” he said. “Lack of knowledge.”

And this lack of knowledge remains baffling to him.

“We’re legislating on something that the vast majority of my colleagues have no idea what we’re talking about,” Razer said. “And now they want to make medical decisions based on an issue that they don’t understand.”

Again, Hudson pushed back.

Citing drugs and surgeries related to gender transition procedures as “harmful,” Hudson said that as a member of the General Assembly he can’t stay idle.

“As a legislature, we need to act, and we need to act quickly,” he said. “Because we’re talking about children here — we’re talking about protecting children.”

He added that an increase in awareness in the general public has made this type of legislation particularly urgent.

“Why would we want to wait until some poor Missouri kid comes out and says ‘my life has been ruined because of this,’” Hudson said. “Why don’t we put this in statute now? Why don’t we act to protect children now?”

On Feb. 16, Hudson’s HB 419 — along with HB 183, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Burger, R-Benton, also presented in the Jan. 24 hearing — was voted out of the General Laws Committee and will now head to the House floor for debate. It has not yet been placed on the House calendar.

Democrats in the Senate last week stalled efforts to debate a transgender bill, although it is expected to come up next week when the Senate returns from its break.

Foresight and recent developments

This ongoing battle between sponsors and opponents of the bills recently gained new ground when Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, on Feb. 9, confirmed that his office launched an investigation into St. Louis Transgender Center for allegedly harming children after a whistleblower who worked at the center came forward.

The announcement was followed a day later by a request from Bailey for the center to immediately pause all prescriptions for puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones to new patients while the investigation is ongoing.

On Feb. 15, the center rejected the request.

Hudson said that talking about these issues remains vital.

“We need to be able to have these conversations as a legislature, as a society,” he said, “as citizens who care about children.”