HB 544 -- PESTICIDES (Diehl)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Agriculture

This bill specifies that a pesticide registered by certain Federal agencies or a pesticide label consistent with certain Federal pesticide labeling requirements will satisfy any warning label requirement regarding cancer under any other provision of current law.

This bill is similar to SCS SB 1416 (2024).

HCS#2 HBs 567, 546, 758 & 958 -- PAID SICK LEAVE FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES (Gallick)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Commerce

This bill modifies the schedule of minimum wage increases or decreases by terminating such schedule as of December 31, 2024. Currently, the minimum wage is set to be increased or decreased on January 1, 2027, and on January 1 of successive years, based on increases or decreases of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This bill repeals that scheduled adjustment.

Currently, these provisions do not apply to public employers, as that term is defined in the bill. This bill changes that applicability for public employers beginning on the effective date of this bill.

The bill repeals provisions as they relate to paid sick leave requirements, including, but not limited to, under what conditions paid sick leave must be provided by employers, prohibited actions for employers and violations thereof, recordkeeping requirements, complaint and investigative procedures, a right to a cause of action for retaliation, and confidentiality of information.

This bill has an emergency clause for the provisions that are being repealed relating to paid sick leave.

HCS HB 711 -- ADMISSION OF NONRESIDENT PUPILS (Pollitt)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education

DEFINITIONS

The bill adds Sections 167.1200 to 167.1230, RSMo, establishing the "Public School Open Enrollment Act". For the purposes of the Act, the bill defines "nonresident district", "resident district", and "transferring student", among other definitions.

TRANSFER POLICY AND PARTICIPATION (Section 167.1205)

The bill establishes an opt-in public school open enrollment program with the intent to improve quality instruction and increase parental involvement, provide access to programs and classes, and offer opportunity to align parental curriculum options to personal beliefs.

The bill specifies that any student beginning kindergarten or already enrolled in a public school, a school other than a public school, an FPE school, or who has just moved to the State and has not yet enrolled in a school, may attend a public school in a nonresident district participating in the program. Districts must declare participation in the open enrollment program by November 1st for the following school year. Participating districts are not required to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer applicants.

Districts can restrict the number of outgoing transfer students to 3% of the previous school year's enrollment. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) must develop and maintain an online resource to facilitate applications and provide a searchable public database for allowable transfers.

DESE or an entity skilled in policy development must develop a model open enrollment transfer policy as outlined in the bill. All public schools must adopt the model policy, regardless of participation in the program, but each school board can modify the model policy based on the district's needs.

Students who wish to attend nonresident schools that have an academic or competitive entrance process must furnish proof that they meet the admission requirements.

Nonresident districts are able to deny transfers to students who, during the most recent school year, have been suspended two or more times or have either been suspended for an act of violence or expelled. The bill establishes a provisional transfer procedure upon approval of the nonresident district's superintendent and provides that a student who has been denied such a transfer has the right to meet in-person with the nonresident district superintendent.

Students that participate in open enrollment in high school can not participate in varsity sports during the first 365 days of enrollment in a nonresident district, with exceptions that are outlined in the bill.

APPLYING FOR TRANSFER (Section 167.1210)

Any student who applies for a transfer can only accept one transfer per school year, although the student can return to his or her resident district and, if so, complete a full semester before applying for another transfer. Students can complete all remaining school years in their nonresident district and any sibling can enroll if the district has the capacity as provided by the bill. For the purposes of determining federal and state aid the student must be counted as a resident pupil of the nonresident district, except for federal calculations of military impact aid. Parents will be responsible for transportation to the nonresident school or to an existing bus stop location in the nonresident district. Students who qualify for free and reduced meals can have transportation expenses reimbursed quarterly as outlined in the bill. However, a transferring student who transfers to a nonresident district sharing a border with the student's resident district and who either qualifies for free and reduced price meals or who has transportation as a related service on his or her IEP must be offered transportation services by the nonresident district or may choose to get reimbursed for costs associated with the student's transportation. The bill establishes the calculation for the transportation costs eligible for reimbursement.

PARENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE FUND (Sections 167.1211 and 167.1212)

The bill creates the "Parent Public School Choice Fund" which is created to be used to reimburse for special needs education as outlined in Section 167.1211.

NUMBER OF TRANSFER STUDENTS (Section 167.1215)

The bill specifies that annually, before November 1st, each school district must set and publish the number of transfer students the district is willing to receive for the following school year. Districts will also develop a policy for waitlists and the Department must include such waitlists online and notify an applicant if they have been waitlisted. APPLICATION PROCESS (Section 167.1220)

The processes for a transfer application and the details for notifications of acceptance or rejection are specified within the bill. The Department must create an online resource to receive applications, which must be submitted before January 1st. The Department will conduct a lottery of applications by January 15th and facilitate and provide notice to all applicants regarding the acceptance or rejection of each application. The nonresident district's superintendent or a designee thereof must review each application, determine if the application is rejected or accepted, and inform the Department of his or her decision.

The Department must be notified of all accepted students and will request an anonymous survey related to the reasons for participating in the Open Enrollment Program. The Department will publish an annual report based on the survey results.

PROCEDURE FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS HAVING BEEN ACCEPTED (Section 167.1224)

The bill includes a procedure for districts when a transferring student has special education needs. Schools can also establish standards for transfer applications and post the information on the school website and in the student handbook. School districts that are served by special school districts must reach an agreement with such special school district regarding finance, staffing, and other items prior to participating in the program.

ALLOWED EXEMPTIONS (Section 167.1225)

This bill specifies that a school district can annually declare an exemption for the upcoming school year from the requirements set forth in this bill, provided that the school district is subject to a desegregation order or mandate of a federal court or agency remedying the effects of past racial segregation or subject to a settlement agreement remedying the effects of past racial segregation.

The bill requires that any student who transfers from a K-eight district enroll before the start of the student's sixth grade year, or the K-eight district must pay tuition as specified under Section 167.131. Additional exemptions are specified for students who qualify for transfers under other listed sections.

APPEAL PROCEDURE (Section 167.1227) The bill determines when a student may be denied a transfer based on his or her discipline record and includes an appeal procedure.

ANNUAL REPORTING (Section 167.1229)

The Department must collect and report data annually from school districts on the number of applications and study the effects of the public school choice program transfers. The report must be submitted annually by December 1st to the Joint Committee on Education, the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Senate Committee on Education, or any successor committees thereof.

ALTERNATIVE FUNDING (Section 167.1230)

The bill requires that enrollment of students under the program not occur before July 1, 2026. The bill outlines what steps must be taken if the Parent Public School Choice Fund does not have sufficient funding necessary to provide for eligible reimbursements for transportation and special education expenses. Transportation costs must be considered eligible expenses under 163.161, and special education students will be provided additional weight in the formula calculation for the nonresident district.

This bill is similar to HCS HB 1989 (2024) and HCS HB 253 (2023).

SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION SYSTEMS AS TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY (Sections 137.010, 137.080, and 137.115)

This act provides that the definition of "tangible personal property" shall, for the purposes of property taxation, include solar panels, racking systems, inverters, and related solar equipment, components, materials, and supplies installed in connection with solar photovoltaic energy systems that were constructed and producing solar energy prior to August 9, 2022. (Section 137.010)

This act also creates a new subclass of tangible personal property that includes solar panels, racking systems, inverters, and related solar equipment, components, materials, and supplies installed in connection with solar photovoltaic energy systems that were constructed and producing solar energy prior to August 9, 2022, and provides that such subclass shall be assessed at five percent of its true value in money. (Sections 137.080 and 137.115)

These provisions are similar to SB 414 (2025), SB 1219 (2024) and to provisions in HCS/HB 1836 (2024).

COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES OF COMMON SEWER DISTRICTS (Sections 204.300 and 204.610)

Trustees appointed by the governing body of certain counties may be paid reasonable compensation by the common sewer district for their services outside their duties as trustees. Monetary compensation of such trustees is described in the act. The act repeals certain provisions relating to the compensation schedule and expenses incurred by the trustees.

The trustees of a district with an eleven-member board and located in two counties shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses. Reimbursement of trustees of a ten-member board are described in the act.

Each trustee appointed or elected in the circuit court decree or amended decree of incorporation for a reorganized common sewer district may receive certain monetary compensation for their services as trustees as described in the act. The act repeals the provisions stating that such trustees shall receive no compensation for their services but may be compensated for reasonable expenses normally incurred in the performance of their duties.

These provisions are similar to provisions in SB 5 (2025), SB 896 (2024), HB 2476 (2024), HCS/SB 155 (2023), and similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024).

ASSESSMENTS TO TELECOMMUNICATION CORPORATIONS (Section 386.370)

Under the act, the total amount assessed by the Commission to public utilities shall not exceed .45%, instead of .315% as currently provided, of the total gross intrastate operating revenues of all public utilities, except telecommunications corporations. The total amount to be assessed to all telecommunications corporations, including interconnected voice over internet protocol service providers, shall not exceed .25% of the total gross intrastate operating revenue of all telecommunications corporations and interconnected voice over internet protocol service providers.

NATURAL GAS SAFETY STANDARDS (Section 386.572)

The act repeals certain provisions relating to maximum penalties for violations of federally mandated natural gas safety standards and provides that the maximum penalties shall not exceed an amount as determined by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States.

This provision is substantially similar to SB 1470 (2024), a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), HB 2660 (2024), SB 450 (2023), SB 953 (2022), SB 172 (2021) and HB 1054 (2021), SB 827 (2020), SB 169 (2019), HB 589 (2019), SB 815 (2018).

ENFORCEMENT OF COMMISSION POWERS (Section 386.600)

Under the act, an action against a public utility may be prosecuted for certain violations involving HVAC services and may be brought by the Attorney General. No filing or docket fee shall be required of the Attorney General.

This provision is similar to a provision in SB 491 (2025).

DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC COUNSEL (Section 386.720)

Under the act, prior to the beginning of each fiscal year on or after July 1, 2026, the Public Counsel shall make an estimate of the expenses to be incurred by his or her office during such fiscal year reasonably attributable to the performance of his or her powers, duties, and functions, and shall separately estimate the amount of such expenses attributable to such duties for each group of public utilities as described in the act. Telephone and telegraph corporations shall be exempt from this provision.

The Public Counsel shall allocate to each group of public utilities the estimated expenses directly attributable to the regulation of each group of the public utilities as described in the act.

The Public Counsel shall render a statement of the assessment of each public utility on or before July 1st of each year and the amount so assessed to each public utility shall be paid by the utility to the Director of Revenue as described in the act. The total amount to be assessed shall not exceed .057%.

The State Treasurer shall credit such payment to a fund, known as "The Office of the Public Counsel Fund", or its successor fund. The Fund shall be used to pay expenditures incurred by the Public Counsel for the regulation of public utilities under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. Any amount remaining in the Fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general revenue fund, but shall be applicable by appropriation of the General Assembly to the payment of the expenditures of the Public Counsel as described in the act.

THE FAIR COMPETITION LAW (Section 386.752, 386.754, 386.756, 386.760)

The act creates the "Fair Competition Law."

The act modifies certain provisions relating to HVAC services.

Any utility that engages a utility contractor that provides HVAC services shall develop a qualification process and make the process open to all contractors seeking to provide HVAC services. Such contractors shall be able to register on the utility's vendor registration site and be evaluated for bid opportunities.

After receiving information that provisions of the Fair Competition Law have been violated by any person or entity subject to the Commission's jurisdiction, the Commission's staff shall investigate and report any findings to the Commission. If the Commission finds that a violation occurred, the Commission may open a case to abate the violation and seek penalties. Any person informing the Commission of any such violation may intervene into the proceeding before the Commission. The person and any other interested person shall be provided a copy of the final disposition of the complaint, but not the work-product or attorney client privileged documents of the Commission's staff or General Counsel or the Attorney General.

The Commission shall not adopt any rule, tariff, order, or any other action that purports to allow violations of the Fair Competition Law.

ADVANCED METERS (Section 386.820)

Under the act, the Public Service Commission shall promulgate commercially reasonable rules governing the opt-out process using an advanced or hub meter for customers no later than June 30, 2026. As of July 1, 2026, a residential utility customer may communicate with the utility that the customer would like to opt-out of using an advanced meter or hub meter.

Within a commercially reasonable time after receiving a customer's request to remove an advanced meter from the customer's residence or business, a utility shall remove the advanced meter and replace it with a traditional meter. A utility may charge a one-time fee, not to exceed $125, to remove the advanced meter and to provide a traditional meter. A utility may charge a monthly fee, not to exceed $15, for the use of a traditional meter.

If a residential customer utilizes a traditional meter and desires to read his or her own meter, the customer shall report accurate electricity usage to the utility once per a billing cycle. A utility shall provide the customer with the detailed process to report meter readings as described in the act. At least once every 12 months, the utility shall obtain an actual meter reading of the customer's energy usage to verity the accuracy of readings reported. A representative of a utility may manually read the customer's meter once per a billing cycle and correct a reading as necessary. If the customer fails to report usage, inaccurately reports usage, or the utility does not receive the customer's usage report on time, the utility may manually read the customer's meter or charge the customer based on an estimate of prior energy use. The utility may charge the customer interest on any unpaid amount. Such interest rate shall be no greater than 5%. The Commission is authorized to approve charges to be assesses pursuant to an electrical corporation's rate schedule to be assessed on customers that intentionally report inaccurate electricity usage.

A utility shall not be liable for any injuries or other damages sustained by a customer or other individuals due to a customer's reading of the customer's energy usage unless such injuries or damages are caused by the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the utility.

TIME-OF-USE RATES (Section 386.1100)

If the Public Service Commission has ordered adoption of time-of-use rates on a mandatory basis for an electrical corporation's residential customers before the affective date of this provision, then within one year from the effective date of this provision, the Commission shall issue an order to allow mandated time-of-use rate customers to opt-out of participating in time-of-use rates and elect to participate in non-time-of-use rates. The transition to opt-out of time-of-use rates may occur in a general rate case or in a standalone tariff proceeding to allow for the transition to conclude no later than one year from the effective date of this provision.

HOT WEATHER RULE FOR UTILITIES (Section 393.108)

Under the act, it shall be prohibited for utilities to disconnect electric and gas service to residential customers for nonpayment of bills between June 1st to September 30th between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. if the National Weather Service local forecast predicts for the following seventy-two hours, instead of twenty-four hours as currently provided, that the temperature shall rise between such times above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

COLD WEATHER RULE FOR UTILITIES (Section 393.109)

Under the act, it shall be prohibited for utilities to disconnect gas and electric service to residential customers for nonpayment of bills between November 1st to March 31st between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. for the following seventy-two hours if the National Weather Service local forecast predicts that the temperature shall fall during such times below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

AN ELECTRICAL CORPORATION'S SERVICE TARIFF (Section 393.130)

Under the act, an electrical corporation with more than 250,000 customers shall develop and submit to the Public Service Commission schedules to include its service tariff applicable to customers who are projected to have above an annual peak demand of 100 megawatts or more. The schedules should ensure such customers' rates will reflect a representative share of the costs incurred to serve the customers and prevent other customer classes' rates from reflecting any unjust or unreasonable costs arising from service to such customers.

Each electrical corporation with 250,000 or fewer customers as of January 1, 2025, shall develop and submit to the Commission such schedules applicable to customers who are reasonably projected to have above an annual peak demand of 50 megawatts or more. The Commission may order an electrical corporation to submit similar tariffs to reasonably ensure that rates of customers who are reasonably projected to have annual peak demands below the above-referenced levels will reflect the customer's representative share of certain costs.

AMOUNTS INCLUDED IN CONSTRUCTION WORK IN PROGRESS (Section 393.135)

The act provides that, subject to certain limitations, an electrical corporation may be permitted to include construction work in progress for any new natural gas-generating unit in rate base. The inclusion of construction work in progress shall be in lieu of any applicable allowance for funds used during construction that would have accrued after the effective date of new base rates reflecting inclusion of the construction work in progress in rate base. The Public Service Commission shall determine the amount of construction work in progress that may be included in rate base. The amount shall be limited by the estimated cost of the project and project expenditures made within the estimated construction period for such project.

Base rate recoveries arising from inclusion of construction work in progress in rate base are subject to refund, as described in the act.

These provisions shall expire on December 31, 2035, unless the Commission determines, after a hearing as described in the act, that good cause exists to extend these provisions through December 31, 2045. The secretary of the Commission shall notify the Revisor of Statutes when the conditions for the extension have been met.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 186 (2025), and similar to a provision in SB 618 (2028), a provision in HB 92 (2025), a provision in HB 853 (2025), a provision in HB 963 (2025), a provision in SB 48 (2025), a provision in SB 214 (2025).

REDUCTION TO THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX RATES OF ELECTRICAL CORPORATIONS (Section 393.138)

If a reduction is made to the federal income tax rates of electrical corporations between January 20, 2025, and December 31, 2029, the Commission shall have one-time authority to adjust each electrical corporation's rates prospectively as described in the act. Beginning with the effective date of the federal corporate income tax reduction through the date the electrical corporation's rates are adjusted on a one-time basis, the Commission shall require electrical corporations to defer to a regulatory asset the financial impact of such federal act. The amounts deferred shall be included in the revenue requirement used to set the electrical corporation's rates.

The Commission may alternatively allow a deferral of such federal act's financial impacts to a regulatory asset starting with the effective date of the federal corporate income tax reduction through the effective date of new rates. The deferred amounts shall be included in the revenue requirement used to set the electrical corporation's rates in its subsequent general rate proceeding through an amortization over a period determined by the Commission.

TEST YEAR FOR RATE PROCEEDINGS FOR CERTAIN UTILITIES (Section 393.150)

Under the act, beginning July 1, 2026, the test year for rate proceedings, if requested by certain utilities, shall be a future year consisting of the first 12 full calendar months after the operation of law date for schedules stating new base rates filed by the utilities, unless the Public Service Commission makes a determination that using a future test year is detrimental to the public interest. The projected total rate base at the end of the future test year shall be used to establish new base rates. New base rates shall not go into effect before the 1st day of the future test year.

Certain public utilities that elect to utilize a future test year within 45 days of the end of the future test year shall update their base rates as described in the act. The total ending rate base and expense items in the update shall not be greater than the total ending rate base and expense items approved by the Commission in its report and order establishing base rates. The Commission and parties to the case shall have 60 days to review the accuracy of the updated information provided by the utility. The Commission shall order the utility to file new tariff sheets reflecting the update, as described in the act.

Certain utilities that request a test year shall not recover the costs of any plant investments made during the test year period under certain mechanisms described in current law.

For utilities that elected to use a future test year, a reconciliation of the rate base at the end of the future test year shall be provided to the Commission within 45 days of the end of the future test year. If the actual rate base is less than the rate base used to set base rates in the prior general rate proceeding, the portion of the annual revenue requirement reflecting the rate base difference shall be returned to customers. The revenue requirement calculations are described in the act. The difference in revenue requirement shall be placed into a regulatory liability to be returned to customers in the next general rate proceeding with such regulatory liability to accrue carrying costs at the utility's weighted average cost of capital.

The Commission may consider any change in business risk to the utility resulting from implementation of the adjustment mechanism in setting the utility's allowed return in any rate proceeding, in addition to any other changes in business risk experienced by the utility.

For a utility that elected to use a future test year, a reconciliation of payroll expense, certain employee benefits, and rate case expense at the end of the future test year shall be provided to the Commission within 45 days of the end of the future test year. If the actual amounts are less than the amounts used to calculate the revenue requirement in the prior general rate proceeding, the difference shall be returned to customers. The difference in revenue requirement shall be placed into a regulatory liability to be returned to customers in the next general rate case with such regulatory liability to accrue carrying costs at the utility’s weighted average cost of capital.

The act creates definitions for "base rates" and "revenue requirement".

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 5 (2025), and similar to SCS/SB 1280 (2024), a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), and a provision in HB 2167 (2024).

A LARGE WATER PUBLIC UTILITY ACQUIRING A SMALL WATER UTILITY (Sections 393.320 and 393.1506)

Under the act, if a large water public utility chooses certain provisions for the acquisition of a small water utility, the Public Service Commission shall use such procedures to establish the rate making rate base of a small water utility during the acquisition, provided that the Commission independently concludes that a certificate of convenience and necessity should be granted. In making such determination, the Commission may take into account rates that may result from such acquisition.

An appraisal of a small water utility shall be performed by no less than two appraisers, instead of three appraisers as currently provided. One appraiser shall be appointed by the small water utility, one appraiser shall be appointed by the large water public utility, and the third appraiser may be appointed by the Commission. The act repeals the provision that the third appraiser shall be appointed by the two appraisers so appointed. Duties of the appraisers are described in the act.

For any acquisition of a small water utility by a large public water utility with an appraised value of $5,000,000 or less, the Public Service Commission shall issue a decision of such acquisition within six months from the submission of the application for such acquisition by the large public water utility. Prior to the expiration of the six-months period, the Commission staff or the office of the Public Counsel may request, upon a showing of good cause, from the Commission an extension for approval of the application for an additional 30 days.

A large water public utility's choice to comply with the provisions of this section does not ensure that the transaction is in the public interest. The Commission shall independently determine whether the acquisition is in the public interest, regardless of whether the matter has been put to a vote of the small water utility's ratepayers.

This act also modifies the definition of "large water public utility".

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 5 (2025), SCS/SB 741 (2024), provisions in SCS/SB 740 (2024), SB 896 (2024), similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), SCS/SB 567 (2023), and similar to provisions in HB 1152 (2023) and HCS/SB 275 (2023).

CLOSURE OF ELECTRIC POWER PLANTS (Section 393.401)

Under the act, prior to the closure of an existing electric generating power plant if the closure occurs on or after January 1, 2026, an electrical corporation, registered and doing business in Missouri, shall first certify to the Public Service Commission that it has secured and placed on the electric grid an equal or greater amount of reliable electric generation as accredited power resources based on the regional transmission operator's resource accreditation. To determine if an equal or greater amount of reliable electric generation is being placed on the electric grid, the electrical corporation shall compare the relevant regional transmission operator's average of the summer and winter accredited capacity for the generation technology of the closing electric plant to the relevant regional transmission operator's average of the summer and winter accredited capacity of the replacement reliable electric generation, as described in the act. Dispatchable power resources shall comprise at least 80% of the average of the summer and winter capacity of the replacement reliable electric generation.

Adequate electric transmission lines shall be in place and the replacement reliable electric generation shall be fully operational concurrently with the closure of the existing electric generating plant, except where some or all of the replacement reliable electric generation utilizes interconnection facilities used by the existing electric generating power plant as described in the act. If replacement reliable electric generation utilizes interconnection facilities utilized by the existing electric power plant, the replacement facilities shall be fully operational within 180 days of the closure of the existing electric plant. If an existing electric power plant is closed as a result of an unexpected or unplanned cause or event, as defined in the act, an electrical corporation shall be required to follow a procedure as described in the act.

The average of the summer and winter accredited capacity of the replacement reliable electric generation shall be equal to or greater than the average summer and winter accredited capacity of the closing dispatchable existing electric generating power plant, as described in the act.

The Commission may consider information regarding anticipated loss of load submitted by the electrical corporation to the pertinent regional transmission operator for purposes of its long term resource plans. The Commission shall certify that the requirements under the act by the replacement reliable electric generation have been met.

If the information is submitted to the Commission that the electrical corporation has experienced a significant and long-term loss of load, the Commission, prior to a review of potential replacement reliable electric generation, shall determine if the acquisition or construction of full replacement generation is in the public interest. If the Commission determines that full replacement generation is not in the public interest, the provisions of this section shall not apply.

Reliable electric generation may be constructed in Missouri or in a state that neighbors Missouri if it is connected to the electric grid of the regional transmission operator of which the electrical corporation is a member or is located in a neighboring regional transmission operator which operates in the state and shares a seam with the member's regional transmission operator.

On or before the date that the new reliable electric generation is placed in service, the electrical corporation shall provide certification to the Commission, the General Assembly, and the Governor that it has met the requirements of the act.

The existing electric generating power plant capacity shall not be replaced with certain renewable energy replacement resources as defined in current law.

These provisions are similar to provisions in SB 6 (2025), SCS/SB 757 (2024), provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), HCS/HB 1753 (2024), SB 709 (2023), and SB 717 (2023).

RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD (Section 393.1030)

Energy meeting the criteria of the renewable energy portfolio requirements under the act that is generated from renewable energy resources and contracted for by an accelerated renewable buyer, as defined in the act, shall be subject to certain requirements described in the act.

The accelerated renewable buyer shall be exempt from any renewable energy standard compliance costs as may be established by the utility and approved by the Public Service Commission as described in the act.

Each electric utility shall certify and verify to the Commission that the accelerated renewable buyer has satisfied the exemption requirements under the act for each year, or an accelerated renewable buyer may choose to certify satisfaction of this exemption by reporting to the Commission individually. Nothing in the act shall be construed as imposing or authorizing the imposition of any reporting, regulatory or financial burden on an accelerated renewable buyer.

These provisions apply to electric utilities with more than 250,000 but less than 1 million retail customers in the state as of the end of the calendar year 2024.

This provision is identical a provision in SB 6 (2025), to SCS/SB 740 (2024), HCS/HB 1746 (2024), provisions in SB 838 (2024), similar to SCS/SB 374 (2023), provisions in SB 896 (2024).

ELECTRICAL CORPORATION'S PLAN TO OWN SUFFICIENT CAPACITY (Section 393.1080)

The Public Service Commission may require an electrical corporation to provide documentation annually reflecting the corporation's plan to own or have rights to sufficient capacity to meet its capacity obligations for the upcoming planning year and each of the three subsequent planning years. An electrical corporation shall submit such documentation, which shall include its actual capacity position for the upcoming planning year and a reasonable forecast of its capacity position for the three subsequent planning years as described in the act.

The Commission may require any additional audits and reporting as the Commission considers necessary to determine if an electrical corporation's plan provides for electrical corporation ownership or contractual rights to sufficient capacity for the planning year beginning four years after the beginning of the current planning year.

If an electrical corporation fails to have sufficient capacity for the upcoming planning year and it is determined by the Commission to be the result of the electrical corporation's imprudence, the Commission may disallow any associated costs related to the failure in a future proceeding. The Commission may require submission of a plan within six months to resolve any expected capacity deficiency for the subsequent three planning years.

This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/SB 186 (2025), and similar to a provision in SB 618 (2025), HB 92 (2025), SB 853 (2025), and a provision in HB 963 (2025).

DEFERRALS BY ELECTRICAL CORPORATIONS (Section 393.1400)

The act modifies certain provisions relating to deferrals by electrical corporations.

The act removes "new natural gas units" from the definition of "qualifying electric plant" and modifies the definition of "weighted average cost of capital".

The act excludes the cost of investments in new generating units and energy storage systems from the requirement that at least 25% of the cost of investments reflected in each year's capital investment plan shall be comprised of grid modernization projects.

The act extends the sunset date of certain provisions relating to deferrals by electrical corporations from December 31, 2028 to December 31, 2035. The deadline to file an application seeking permission from the Public Service Commission relating to deferrals shall be extended from December 31, 2026, to December 31, 2033.

Provisions relating to electrical corporations seeking deferrals shall expire on December 31, 2040, instead of on December 31, 2033.

This provision is identical to a provision in SB 6 (2025), similar to SB 1422 (2024), a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), and HCS/HB 2541 (2024).

DISCOUNTS BY GAS CORPORATIONS (Section 393.1645)

Under the act, subject to certain limitations, a new or an existing gas corporation account meeting the criteria under the act shall qualify for one of the following discounts:

(1) When the customer is a new customer and the new load is reasonably projected to be at least 270,000 CCF annually, the discount shall equal 25% and shall apply for four years; or

(2) When the customer is an existing customer and the new load is reasonably projected to be at least 135,000 CCF annually, the discount shall equal 25% and shall apply for four years.

To obtain one of the discounts, the customer's load shall be incremental, net of any offsetting load reductions due to the termination of other accounts of the customer or an affiliate of the customer within twelve months prior to the commencement of service to the new load. The customer shall receive an economic development incentive from a governmental entity, as described in the act, in conjunction with the incremental load. The customer shall meet the criteria set forth in the gas corporation's economic development rider tariff sheet, as approved by the Public Service Commission, that are not inconsistent with the act.

Unless otherwise provided by the gas corporation's tariff, the applicable discount shall be a percentage applied to all variable base-rate components of the bill. The discount shall be applied to such incremental load from the date when the meter has been permanently set until the date that such incremental load no longer meets the criteria required to qualify for the discount as determined under the act, or a maximum of four years. The gas corporation may include in its tariff additional or alternative terms and conditions relating to the discount, subject to approval of such terms and conditions by the Commission.

The customer, on forms supplied by the gas corporation, shall apply for the applicable discount as described in the act. If the incremental usage is not separately metered, the gas corporation's determination of the incremental usage shall control. The gas corporation shall verify the customer's annual consumption to determine continued qualification for the discount as described in the act. If in a subsequent general rate proceeding the Commission determines that application of a discounted rate is not adequate to cover the gas corporation's variable cost to serve the accounts in question and provide a positive contribution to fixed costs, then the Commission shall reduce the discount for those accounts as necessary.

In each general rate proceeding concluded after August 28, 2025, the difference in revenues with the discounts and the revenues without such discounts shall not be imputed into the gas corporation's revenue requirement. Instead, such revenue requirement shall be set using the revenues by the discounted rates as described in the act. To qualify for discounted rates, customers shall meet the applicable criteria within 24 months of initially receiving discounts based on metering data for calendar months 13-24 and annually thereafter. If such data indicates that the customer did not meet the applicable criteria for any subsequent 12-month period, the customer shall no longer qualify for a discounted rate. Customer usage existing at the time the customer makes application for a discounted rate shall not constitute incremental usage. The discounted rates apply only for variable base-rate components, with charges or credits arising from any rate adjustment mechanism authorized by law to be applied to customers qualifying for discounted rates in the same manner as such rate adjustments would apply in the absence of these provisions.

The act creates a definition for "variable base-rate components".

These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), substantially similar to SB 896 (2024), HB 2045 (2024), and similar to SB 638 (2023) and HB 1143 (2023).

REVENUE REQUIREMENT IMPACT CAP (Section 393.1656)

Under the act, "revenue requirement impact cap" means the product of one-twelfth of two and one-quarter percent, instead of two and one-half percent as currently provided, multiplied by the number of months that have elapsed from the effective date of new base rates in the electrical corporation's most recently completed general rate proceeding as provided in current law.

SPECIAL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER RATES (Section 393.1680)

Under the act, the Public Service Commission may approve a special alternative residential customer rate or discount from a utility company, based on household utility burden, as defined in the act. The rate or discount shall incorporate a Commission authorized discount from the appropriate base residential rate. Any eligibility verification needed to implement the alternative rate shall be done by an independent third party as described in the act.

SECURITIZED UTILITY TARIFF (Section 393.1700)

Under the act, if an electrical corporation has a Commission-approved market-based tariff as of 2022, any customer receiving electrical service under the market-based tariff with a load of at least 80 megawatts is exempt from any securitized utility tariff charges if the charge was approved by the Commission prior to customer energization and from any future securitized utility tariff charges as described in the act. No such exemption shall apply for electrical service that is not received by the customer under a Commission-approved market-based tariff.

This provision is similar to a provision in SCS/SB 740 (2024) and SB 838 (2024).

REVIEW OF FINANCING ORDERS FOR ENERGY TRANSITION COSTS (Section 393.1700)

The Public Service Commission may directly contract counsel, financial advisors or other consultants as necessary for the purpose of reviewing financing orders for energy transition costs. This provision shall not be subject to state purchasing provisions. However, the Commission shall establish a policy for the bid process. Such policy shall be publicly available and any information related to contracts under the established policy shall be included in publicly available rate case documents.

This provision is identical to a provision in SB 6 (2025), a provision in SCS/SB 740 (2024), HB 1728 (2024), a provision in HCS/HB 1746 (2024), a provision in SB 899 (2024), HCS/HB 1071 (2023) and similar to SB 520 (2023).

INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANNING (Section 393.1900)

Under the act, by August 28, 2027, the Public Service Commission, and every four years as needed thereafter, shall commence an integrated resource planning proceeding for electrical corporations. The Commission's responsibilities pursuant to the integrated resource planing proceeding are described in the act.

No later than August 28, 2027, the Commission shall publish a schedule for electrical corporations to file an integrated resource plan every four years. Each integrated resource plan shall include an alternative resource plan meeting the requirements under the act. All alternative resource plans shall cover a minimum 16-year planning horizon. All such plans shall reflect projections of an electrical corporations's load obligations and how an electrical corporation under such plan would reliably meet its projected load obligations. Other requirements to be included in the plan are described in the act.

After a hearing, the Commission shall issue a report and order no later than 360 days after the electrical corporation files an integrated resource plan, unless the Commission grants itself an extension for good cause for the issuance of the report and order. Up to 150 days after an electrical corporation makes its initial integrated resource plan filing, the electrical corporation may file an update of the cost estimates if the cost estimates have materially changed. The Commission's report and order shall determine whether the electrical corporation has submitted sufficient documentation and selected a preferred resource plan representing a reasonable and prudent means of meeting the electrical corporation's load serving obligations at just and reasonable rates. In making this determination, the Commission shall consider whether the plan appropriately balances specific factors described in the act.

If the Commission determines that the preferred resource plan is a reasonable and prudent means of meeting the electrical corporation's load serving obligations, such determination shall constitute the Commission's permission for the electrical corporation to construct or acquire the specified supply-side resources, identified by the Commission, that were reflected in the implementation plan, as described in the act. When the electrical corporation files an application for a certificate of convenience and necessity to authorize construction or acquisition of such resources, the Commission shall be deemed to have determined that the supply-side resources are necessary or convenient for the public interest. In the certificate of convenience and necessity proceeding, the Commission's inquiry shall be limited, as described in the act.

If the Commission determines that the preferred resource plan is not a reasonable and prudent means of meeting the electrical corporation's load serving obligations, the Commission shall have the authority to specify in its report and order the deficiencies in the preferred resource plan. Procedures to cure the deficiencies as described in the act.

If approved in a proceeding granting permission and approval to construct an electric plant, an electrical corporation may, subject to certain limitations, be permitted to include in its rate base any amounts recorded to construction work in progress for the investments for which permission is granted. The inclusion of construction work in progress shall be in lieu of any applicable allowance for funds used during construction that would have accrued from the effective date of new base rates that reflect inclusion of the construction work in progress in rate base. The Commission shall determine the amount of construction work in progress that may be included in rate base, as described in the act. The amount shall be limited by specifics described in the act.

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 186 (2025), and similar to a provision in SB 618 (2025), a provision in SB 48 (2025), a provision in SB 214 (2025), a provision in HB 92 (2025), and a provision in HB 853 (2025).

JULIA SHEVELEVA

TAX ASSESSMENT OF STATIONARY PROPERTY (Section 137.122)

Beginning January 1, 2026, provisions relating to depreciable tangible personal property shall apply to all real property that is stationary and used for transportation or storage of liquid and gaseous products, including water, sewage, and certain natural gas.

To estimate the value of the real property under the act, each assessor shall value such property by applying a 20-year recovery period to the original cost of the property according to the 20-year depreciation schedule. The presumption as to the proper method of determining the assessed value of such property shall apply regardless of when such property was placed in service.

Each taxpayer owning property under the act shall provide to an assessor, on or before May 1st of the applicable tax year, the original cost and year placed in service of such property, as described in the act.

These provisions are identical to a provision in SB 896 (2024) and HB 2110 (2024).

COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEES OF COMMON SEWER DISTRICTS (Sections 204.300 and 204.610)

Trustees appointed by the governing body of certain counties may be paid reasonable compensation by the common sewer district for their services outside their duties as trustees. Monetary compensation of such trustees is described in the act. The act repeals certain provisions relating to the compensation schedule and expenses incurred by the trustees.

The trustees of a district with an eleven-member board and located in two counties shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses. Reimbursement of trustees of a ten-member board are described in the act.

Each trustee appointed or elected in the circuit court decree or amended decree of incorporation for a reorganized common sewer district may receive certain monetary compensation for their services as trustees as described in the act. The act repeals the provisions stating that such trustees shall receive no compensation for their services but may be compensated for reasonable expenses normally incurred in the performance of their duties.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 896 (2024), HB 2476 (2024), HCS/SB 155 (2023), and similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024).

TEST YEAR FOR RATE PROCEEDINGS FOR CERTAIN UTILITIES (Section 393.150)

Under the act, beginning July 1, 2026, the test year for rate proceedings, if requested by certain utilities, shall be a future year consisting of the first 12 full calendar months after the operation of law date for schedules stating new base rates filed by the utilities, unless the Public Service Commission makes a determination that using a future test year is detrimental to the public interest. The projected total rate base at the end of the future test year shall be used to establish new base rates. New base rates shall not go into effect before the 1st day of the future test year.

Certain public utilities that elect to utilize a future test year within 45 days of the end of the future test year shall update their base rates as described in the act. The total ending rate base and expense items in the update shall not be greater than the total ending rate base and expense items approved by the Commission in its report and order establishing base rates. The Commission and parties to the case shall have 60 days to review the accuracy of the updated information provided by the utility. The Commission shall order the utility to file new tariff sheets reflecting the update, as described in the act.

Certain utilities that request a test year shall not recover the costs of any plant investments made during the test year period under certain mechanisms described in current law.

For utilities that elected to use a future test year, a reconciliation of the rate base at the end of the future test year shall be provided to the Commission within 45 days of the end of the future test year. If the actual rate base is less than the rate base used to set base rates in the prior general rate proceeding, the portion of the annual revenue requirement reflecting the rate base difference shall be returned to customers. The revenue requirement calculations are described in the act. The difference in revenue requirement shall be placed into a regulatory liability to be returned to customers in the next general rate proceeding with such regulatory liability to accrue carrying costs at the utility's weighted average cost of capital.

The Commission may consider any change in business risk to the utility resulting from implementation of the adjustment mechanism in setting the utility's allowed return in any rate proceeding, in addition to any other changes in business risk experienced by the utility.

For a utility that elected to use a future test year, a reconciliation of payroll expense, certain employee benefits, and rate case expense at the end of the future test year shall be provided to the Commission within 45 days of the end of the future test year. If the actual amounts are less than the amounts used to calculate the revenue requirement in the prior general rate proceeding, the difference shall be returned to customers. The difference in revenue requirement shall be placed into a regulatory liability to be returned to customers in the next general rate case with such regulatory liability to accrue carrying costs at the utility's weighted average cost of capital.

The act creates definitions for "base rates" and "revenue requirement".

These provisions are similar to SCS/SB 1280 (2024), a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), and a provision in HB 2167 (2024).

A LARGE WATER PUBLIC UTILITY ACQUIRING A SMALL WATER UTILITY (Sections 393.320 and 393.1506)

This act provides that for any acquisition of a small water utility by a large public water utility with an appraised value of $5,000,000 or less, the Public Service Commission shall issue a decision of such acquisition within six months from the submission of the application for such acquisition by the large public water utility. Prior to the expiration of the six-months period, the Commission staff or the office of the Public Counsel may request, upon a showing of good cause, from the Commission an extension for approval of the application for an additional 30 days.

This act further modifies the definition of "large water public utility".

These provisions are identical to SCS/SB 741 (2024), provisions in SCS/SB 740 (2024), SB 896 (2024), similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1746 (2024), SCS/SB 567 (2023), and similar to provisions in HB 1152 (2023) and HCS/SB 275 (2023).

JULIA SHEVELEVA

• 20 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than nine percent;

• 19 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 8.5% but no higher than 9%;

• 18 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 8% but no higher than 8.5%;

• 17 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 7.5% but no higher than 8%;

• 16 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 7% but no higher than 7.5%;

• 15 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 6.5% but no higher than 7%;

• 14 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 6% but no higher than 6.5%;

• 13 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 5.5% but no higher than 6%;

• 12 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 5% but no higher than 5.5%;

• 11 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 4.5% but no higher than 5%;

• 10 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 4% but no higher than 4.5%;

• 9 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is higher than 3.5% but no higher than 4%; and

• 8 weeks if the Missouri unemployment rate is at or below 3.5%.

These provisions take effect beginning January 1, 2026.

This act is identical to SB 745 (2024), a provision in SCS/SB 21 (2023), HB 765 (2023), SS/SB 665 (2022), SCS/HB 1860 (2022), HB 1909 (2022), and SCS/HCS/HB 649 (2021) and substantially similar to a provision in SCS/SB 539 (2021), SCS/SB 622 (2021), a provision in HB 215 (2021), SB 690 (2020), HB 1921 (2020), HB 2039 (2020), HB 217 (2019), provisions in SB 869 (2018), SCS/SB 189 (2017), HB 288 (2017), HB 150 (2015), which was vetoed by the Governor, and SB 220 (2015).

SCOTT SVAGERA

CLEAN SLATE ELIGIBLE OFFENSES (Section 610.141)

This act provides that beginning August 28, 2028, all records and files maintained by any court pertaining to clean slate eligible offenses, which shall be offenses currently eligible for expungement by law, shall become closed records without the filing of a petition, subject to certain requirements as provided in this act. Additionally, this act provides certain time limitations for when records shall be closed and limitations on the amount of offenses which may be expunged, as provided in this act.

This act also provides that beginning August 28, 2028, the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA) shall identify and transfer on a monthly basis all clean slate eligible offenses records to the Central Repository and every prosecuting agency in the state within 30 days of the offenses becoming eligible for expungement. All records currently eligible for automated expungement shall be expunged by August 28, 2030. The provisions of this act shall not expunge any delinquent court costs, fines, fees, or other sums order by the court. A prosecuting agency may file an objection to the automated expungement within 60 days from notification of expungement by OSCA.

Additionally, OSCA shall provide notification of records to be expunged to the presiding judges of every circuit court and the courts shall order the expungement of all records eligible for expungement, as provided in the act. The Missouri State Highway Patrol shall keep nonpublic records of expungement available to certain entities.

Finally, this act provides that, for purposes of the law, the petitioner shall be considered not to have been previous convicted, except for purposes of the requirement to pay restitution to the victim and other purposes as provided in the act.

This provision is identical to SB 763 (2024) and SB 1161 (2024) and substantially similar to SB 1194 (2024).

REPORTS BY OSCA TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Section 610.142)

Beginning August 28, 2028, OSCA shall report on a yearly basis to both the Senate and House of Representatives judiciary committees, or equivalent committees, the number of records expunged pursuant to this act and the number of records transmitted back to OSCA from the Missouri State Highway Patrol, any prosecuting agency, or any circuit court with objections that the record is not eligible for expungement.

This provision is identical to SB 763 (2024) and SB 1161 (2024) and substantially similar to SB 1194 (2024).

CREDIT BUREAU REPORTS (Section 610.143)

This act provides that a credit bureau may report records of arrests, indictments pending trial, and convictions of crimes for no longer than 7 years from final disposition. However, any records which have been expunged or any records of a person who has been granted a pardon shall not be reported. Any credit bureau which willfully or negligently violates this act shall be subject to civil penalties.

This provision is identical to SB 763 (2024) and SB 1161 (2024) and substantially similar to SB 1194 (2024).

MISSOURI EXPUNGEMENT FUND (Section 610.144)

This act creates the "Missouri Expungement Fund" which shall be used by the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Administration, and the Office of State Courts Administrator to provide system upgrades, staffing needs, and implement the provisions of this act.

This provision is identical to SB 763 (2024), SB 1161 (2024), and substantially similar to SB 1194 (2024).

KATIE O'BRIEN

For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, this act authorizes a taxpayer to claim a tax credit equal to 25% of qualified conversion expenditures, as defined in the act, or 30% of qualified conversion expenditures with respect to upper floor housing, as described in the act, incurred for converting nonresidential real property from office use to predominantly residential use, which may include retail or other commercial use. Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable, but may be carried back three years or carried forward ten years. Tax credits may also be transferred, sold, or assigned, as described in the act.

The total amount of tax credits authorized pursuant to this act shall not exceed $50 million in any fiscal year. Fifty percent of such maximum amount shall be reserved for qualified converted buildings of more than 750,000 square feet and shall be allocated to the annual limit over a period of ten years, provided that such project meets criteria described in the act.

Twenty-five percent of the maximum amount of tax credits available to be authorized shall be authorized solely for projects located in a qualified Missouri main street district, as defined in the act. If the total amount of such reserved tax credits have been authorized, projects located in a qualified Missouri main street district may receive tax credits from the remaining unreserved amount of tax credits. If the maximum amount of allowable tax credits is authorized in any given fiscal year, such maximum allowable amount shall be increased by the percentage increase in inflation.

A taxpayer shall apply to the Department of Economic Development to receive tax credits pursuant to this act. Such application shall include proof of ownership or site control, floor plans of the existing structure, architectural plans, and, where applicable, plans of the proposed conversion of the structure, as well as proposed additions, estimated cost of conversion, the anticipated total costs of the project, the actual basis of the property, as shown by proof of actual acquisition costs, the anticipated total labor costs, the estimated project start date, and the estimated project completion date, proof that the property is an eligible property, a copy of all land use and building approvals reasonably necessary for the commencement of the project, and any other information which the Department may reasonably require to review the project for approval.

All taxpayers with applications receiving approval shall submit within 120 days following the award of credits evidence of the capacity of the applicant to finance the costs and expenses for the conversion of the eligible property. All taxpayers with applications receiving approval, excluding projects of more than 750,000 square feet, shall commence conversion within twelve months of the date of issuance of the letter from the Department granting the approval for tax credits.

To claim a tax credit authorized by this act, a taxpayer with approval shall apply for final approval and issuance of tax credits from the Department, which shall determine the final amount of qualified conversion expenditures and whether the completed rehabilitation meets the requirements of the act. The final application shall demonstrate that the taxpayer has substantially converted a qualified converted building; satisfactory evidence of any qualified conversion expenditures for the structure, as determined by the Department; and any other information reasonably requested by the Department.

The Department shall determine, on an annual basis, the overall economic impact to the state from the rehabilitation of eligible property pursuant to this act. No taxpayer shall be issued tax credits for qualified conversion expenditures on a qualified converted building within 27 years of a previous issuance of tax credits pursuant to this act on such qualified converted building.

This act shall sunset on December 31, 2033, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly.

This act is substantially similar to SB 792 (2024) and to a provision in HCS/HB 1935 (2024).

JOSH NORBERG

With certain exceptions, this act makes changes to mirror the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Further, the act provides that an order certifying a class action shall define the class and the class claims, issues, or defenses and shall appoint class counsel. An order that grants or denies class certification may be altered or amended before final judgment or may be combined with orders for actions taken at the case management conference.

Notices to class members for certain class actions may be by United States mail, electronic means, or other appropriate means. Additionally, the rule states that the notice shall clearly and concisely state in plain, easily understood language:

(1) The nature of the action;

(2) The definition of the class certified;

(3) The class claims, issues, or defenses;

(4) That a class member may enter an appearance through an attorney if the member so desires;

(5) That the court will exclude from the class any member who requests exclusion;

(6) The time and manner for requesting exclusion; and

(7) The binding effect of a class judgment on members.

Currently, the rule provides that a class action shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the court and notice of the proposed dismissal or compromise shall be given to all members of the class in such manner as the court directs. The rule repeals this provision and provides that the claims, issues, or defenses of a certified class, or a proposed class, may be settled, voluntarily dismissed, or compromised only with the court's approval. Furthermore, the rule states that the parties shall provide the court with information sufficient to enable it to determine whether to give notice of the proposal to the class and that the court shall direct notice in a reasonable manner to all class members who would be bound by the proposal if giving notice is justified by the parties' showing that the court will likely be able to approve the proposal and certify the class for purposes of judgment on the proposal.

If the proposal would bind class members, the court may approve it only after a hearing and only on finding that it is fair, reasonable, and adequate after considering whether:

(1) The class representatives and class counsel have adequately represented the class;

(2) The proposal was negotiated at arm's length;

(3) The relief provided for the class is adequate, taking into account the costs, risks, and delay of trial and appeal, the effectiveness of any proposed method of distributing relief to the class, the terms of any proposed award of attorney's fees, and any agreement required to be identified by the rule; and

(4) The proposal treats class members equitably relative to each other.

Additionally, the rule requires the parties seeking approval to file a statement identifying any agreement made in connection with the proposal. If the class action was previously certified, the court may refuse to approve a settlement unless it affords a new opportunity to request exclusion to individual class members who had an earlier opportunity to request exclusion but did not do so. Any class member may object to the proposal if it requires court approval and such objection shall state whether it applies only to the objector, to a specific subset of the class, or to the entire class. The grounds for the objection shall be specified. Unless approved by the court after a hearing, no payment or other consideration shall be provided in connection with forgoing or withdrawing an objection, or forgoing, dismissing, or abandoning an appeal from a judgment approving the proposal.

Unless a statute provides otherwise, the rule provides that a court certifying a class shall appoint class counsel and in appointing such counsel, the court shall consider:

(1) The work that the counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential claims in the action;

(2) The counsel's experience in handling class actions, other complex litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the action;

(3) The counsel's knowledge of the applicable law; and

(4) The resources that counsel will commit to representing the class.

Additionally, the court may consider any other matter pertinent to counsel's ability to fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class and may order potential class counsel to provide information on any subject pertinent to the appointment and to propose terms for attorney's fees and nontaxable costs. Furthermore, the court may include in the appointing order provisions about the award of attorney's fees or nontaxable costs and may make any further orders in connection with the appointment.

If more than one adequate applicant seeks appointment as class counsel, the court shall appoint the applicant best able to represent the interests of the class. Additionally, the rule provides that the court may designate interim counsel to act on behalf of a putative class before determining whether to certify the action as a class action. The rule requires that class counsel fairly and adequately represent the interests of the class.

In a certified class action, the court may award reasonable attorney's fees and nontaxable costs that are authorized by law or by the parties' agreement. The rule provides the following procedures for an award of fees and costs:

(1) A claim for an award shall be made by motion at a time the court sets and notice of the motion shall be served on all parties and, for motions by class counsel, directed to class members in a reasonable manner;

(2) A class member, or a party from whom payment is sought, may object to the motion;

(3) The court may hold a hearing and shall find the facts and state its legal conclusions; and

(4) The court may refer issues related to the amount of the award to a special master.

This act is similar to a provision in SB 313 (2025), SB 1509 (2024), SB 1218 (2022), and HB 2836 (2022).

KATIE O'BRIEN

FOOD SALES TAX EXEMPTION

Current law taxes retail sales of food, as defined in current law, at a rate of one percent. This act provides that retail sales of food shall be exempt from state sales taxes.

This provision is identical to SCS/SB 161 (2023) and to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 154 (2023), and is substantially similar to HB 1418 (2024), HB 1464 (2024), HB 2174 (2024), HB 260 (2023), HB 452 (2023), HB 591 (2023), HB 896 (2023), HCS#2/HB 1992 (2022), HB 1817 (2022), and HB 2530 (2022), and to a provision in HB 2815 (2024), HB 2887 (2024), HB 377 (2023), HCS/HBs 876, 771, 676 & 551 (2023), HB 1136 (2023), HB 1779 (2022), and HB 2249 (2022).

This act also provides that, beginning on January 1, 2026, local sales taxes imposed on food shall annually be reduced in four equal increments over a period of four years. Beginning January 1, 2030, there shall be no local sales taxes imposed on food. (Section 144.014)

This provision is identical to SB 1062 (2024), HB 2055 (2024), and HB 2273 (2024), and is substantially similar to a provision in HB 2401 (2024).

DIAPERS SALES TAX EXEMPTION

This act authorizes a sales tax exemption for the purchase of diapers, as defined in the act. (Section 144.030)

This provision is identical to SB 1231 (2024), HB 290 (2023), SB 1124 (2022), and HB 2384 (2022), and to a provision in SB 858 (2024), SB 1119 (2024), HB 1762 (2024), HB 1920 (2024), HB 2112 (2024), SS/SCS/SBs 73 & 162 (2023), SCS/HCS/HB 154 (2023), HCS/SS/SB 143 (2023), and SS#2/SCS/SB 649 (2022), and is substantially similar to HB 351 (2023), HB 744 (2023), and HCS/HBs 1679, 2859, & 2272 (2022), and to a provision in HB 2187 (2024), SCS/SB 184 (2023), HCS/HBs 876, 771, 676 & 551 (2023), and HB 1136 (2023).

JOSH NORBERG

The legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service is also eligible for a tuition award if he or she executes an agreement with the public institution of higher education outlining the terms and conditions of the tuition award, including the legal dependent's commitment to reside in Missouri for the next five years, as well as a commitment to provide a copy of his or her state income tax return annually to DHEWD in order to prove residency in Missouri. The agreement shall also include a provision that if the tuition award recipient fails to provide proof of residency in Missouri for the five-year period following the use of the tuition award, the tuition award shall be treated as a loan to such recipient, with the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority as the loan servicer, as provided in the act. Finally, the agreement shall provide that any residency, filing, or payment obligation incurred by the tuition award recipient under the act is canceled in the event of the tuition award recipient's total and permanent disability or death.

The five-year residency requirement for a legal dependent who receives a tuition award begins once the legal dependent applies for and receives the tuition award and continues until the tuition award recipient (a) completes the five-year tuition award eligibility period, (b) completes a baccalaureate degree, (c) completes an associate degree and notifies DHEWD that he or she does not intend to pursue a baccalauareate degree or additional associate degree using tuition awards, or (d) notifies DHEWD that he or she does not plan to use additional tuition awards.

The legal dependent shall satisfy certain other criteria to be eligible for a tuition award. The legal dependent shall not have previously earned a baccalaureate degree, and he or she shall meet all admission requirements of the public institution of higher education he or she wishes to attend. The legal dependent shall also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, apply for financial assistance under the G.I. Bill, as well as providing verification of the public safety personnel's eligibility for the tuition award to DHEWD, as provided in the act. (Sections 173.2655 and 173.2660)

Public safety personnel and their legal dependents may receive a tuition award for up to five consecutive years if they otherwise continue to be eligible. The five years of eligibility starts once the individual applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time. DHEWD shall grant an award worth up to 100% of the individual's tuition remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants. An application for a tuition award shall include a verification of the public safety personnel's satisfaction of the requirements of the act, including proof of full-time employment and residency status. Public safety personnel shall include such verification when they or their legal dependents are applying to DHEWD for a tuition award.

The death of public safety personnel in the line of duty shall not disqualify an individual's otherwise eligible legal dependent from receiving the tuition award. In such a case, in lieu of submitting verification of the public safety personnel's employment, the legal dependent shall submit a statement attesting that, at the time of death, the public safety personnel satisfied the requirements of the act, and such individual died in the line of duty, as described in the act.

DHEWD shall provide a tuition award to an eligible applicant for the award who applies for an "open seat", defined in the act as a vacant position in a class, course, or program that is available for enrollment. DHEWD shall not provide a tuition award if doing so would require a public institution of higher education to create additional seats exceeding program capacity.

Applications for tuition awards shall be submitted to DHEWD no later than December 15th annually. No later than March 1st annually, DHEWD shall send written notice of the applicant's eligibility or ineligibility for the tuition award and state whether the application has been approved or denied. If the applicant is determined not to be eligible for the tuition award, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for such determination. If the application is denied, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for the denial.

The Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Fund is created for purposes of granting tuition awards as provided in the act. In the event that funds are insufficient to provide tuition awards for all eligible applicants, public safety personnel shall be in the first class of applicants to receive the awards, and dependents shall be in the second class, in a priority order specified in the act.

The tuition awards provided for in this act are subject to appropriation. If there are no moneys in the Fund, no tuition awards shall be granted. (Section 173.2655)

This act is similar to HB 496 (2025).

OLIVIA SHANNON

This act is identical to SB 14 (2023).

SARAH HASKINS

The maximum allowable credit under current law is limited to $750 in rent constituting property taxes actually paid or $1,100 in actual property tax paid. This act increases such amounts to $1,055 and $1,550, respectively, and annually adjusts such maximum amounts for inflation. (Section 135.025)

Additionally, current law limits the tax credit to qualifying taxpayers with an income of $27,500 or less, or $30,000 in the case of a homestead owned and occupied by a claimant for the entire year. This act increases such maximum income to $38,200 for claimants with a filing status of single, $42,200 for claimants with a filing status of single and who owned and occupied a homestead for the entire year, $41,000 for claimants with a filing status of married filing combined, and $48,000 for claimants with a filing status of married filing combined and who owned and occupied a homestead for the entire year, and annually adjusts such amounts for inflation. (Section 135.030)

This act is identical to SB 822 (2024) and is substantially similar to SB 930 (2024), HCS/HB 1428 (2024), HB 1670 (2024), HB 1939 (2024), HB 2050 (2024), HB 666 (2023), and HCS/HB 1134 (2023), and to provisions in HB 1636 (2024), SS/SCS/SB 15 (2023), HCS/SS/SB 143 (2023), HCS/SB 247 (2023), and HB 1351 (2023).

JOSH NORBERG

This act is identical to SB 1010 (2024) and to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1483 (2024).

JOSH NORBERG

This act further modifies the definition of "practice of advanced practice nursing" by providing that in addition to the practice of professional nursing and within the advanced practice registered nurse role and population focus, the term shall include certain actions and measures.

This act also provides that an APRN's prescriptive authority shall include authority to prescribe, dispense, and administer controlled substances as provided in current law. Furthermore, the provision on prescriptive authority shall also apply to good-standing APRNs who have been in collaborative practice arrangements for a cumulative 2000 documented hours with collaborating physicians and who are no longer required to hold collaborative practice arrangements.

This act is identical to SB 809 (2024) and contains provisions identical to provisions in HB 1875 (2024).

KATIE O'BRIEN

This act also removes the definition of "eligible costs" and bases the amount of the tax credit on either the number of admission tickets sold or the number of registered participants.

The act requires an applicant to submit a ticket sales or box office statement, or a list of registered participants, rather than documentation of eligible costs.

The amount of the tax credit shall be equal to either $6 for every admission ticket sold, rather than $5, or $12 for every registered participant, rather than $10. The Department of Revenue shall issue a refund of the tax credit within ninety days of the applicant's submission of a valid tax credit certificate, even prior to the close of the tax year for which the tax credits are issued.

This act extends the sunset on the tax credit from August 28, 2025, to August 28, 2032. (Section 67.3000)

Current law also authorizes a tax credit in the amount of fifty percent of an eligible donation made to a certified sponsor or local organizing committee, with the total annual amount of such tax credits limited to $10 million. This act reduces such allowable annual amount of tax credits to $500,000. This act also extends the sunset on such tax credit from August 28, 2025, to August 28, 2032. (Section 67.3005)

Certain provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.

This act is substantially similar to SCS/SB 1036 (2024) and to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1483 (2024) and HCS/HB 1935 (2024).

JOSH NORBERG

The school board of each school district shall determine the district's capacity to accept student transfers in each grade level and in each school in the district. Each school board shall provide this information to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) beginning on July 15, 2026, and by the first day of each month thereafter. DESE shall publish and update the capacity of each district's grade levels and schools on its website. (Section 167.895)

Parents of students who wish to transfer shall notify DESE by August 1, 2026, and by the first day of each month thereafter, and DESE shall assign students to a receiving district or charter school as provided in the act. A receiving district shall accept all students who apply and are assigned to the district, so long as there is capacity for each student. School board policies shall not discriminate against any transfer student on the basis of his or her residential address, academic performance, athletic ability, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, or free and reduced price lunch status. (Sections 167.895 and 167.898)

The act repeals provisions that require sending districts to make tuition payments to receiving districts. Instead, for purposes of calculating state and federal aid, each transfer student shall be counted as a resident of the receiving district in which the student is enrolled. Tuition shall not be charged to any student or to his or her parent or legal guardian. (Sections 160.415, 162.081, 167.132, 167.151, and 167.895)

DESE shall designate at least one receiving district or charter school to which each sending district shall provide transportation. A sending district shall be required to provide transportation only to the school district or charter school designated by DESE. (Section 167.241)

If the costs associated with providing special education services to students with disabilities exceed the tuition amount established in the act, the sending district shall remain responsible for paying the excess cost to the receiving district. If the receiving district is part of a special school district, the sending district shall contract with the special school district for the entirety of the costs to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation. The special school district may contract with a sending district for transportation, or the sending district may provide transportation on its own. (Section 167.895)

The act outlines school districts' responsibilities for the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities. A special school district shall continue to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to another school within the special school district. If the sending district is a metropolitan school district, it shall remain responsible for providing special education and related services, including transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to a receiving district. A special school district in an adjoining county to a metropolitan school district may contract with the metropolitan school district for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the special school district for transfer students. A receiving district that is not part of a special school district shall not be responsible for providing transportation to transfer students, regardless of whether transportation is identified as a related service within a student's individualized education program. A sending district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district for transportation of students with disabilities. A seven-director or urban school district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district in the same or an adjoining county for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the receiving district. (Section 167.895)

OLIVIA SHANNON

JULIA SHEVELEVA

This act is identical to SB 1056 (2024) and substantially similar to HB 2278 (2024) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON

CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT

This act establishes the "Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act".

For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, this act authorizes a tax credit in an amount up to 75% of the taxpayer's contribution to a child care provider or intermediary, as such terms are defined in the act. A child care provider or intermediary shall file a contribution verification with the Department of Economic Development within sixty days of receiving a contribution, and shall issue a copy of such verification to the taxpayer. A failure to issue a contribution verification to a taxpayer shall entitle the taxpayer to a refund of the contribution. Contributions made to intermediaries shall be distributed in full to one or more child care providers within two years of the intermediary receiving such contribution.

Contributions made under the act shall be used directly by a child care provider to promote child care for children 12 years of age and younger, shall not be made to a child care provider in which the taxpayer has a direct financial interest, and shall not be made in exchange for care of a child or children unless the contribution is made by an employer purchasing child care for the children of the employer's employees. A child care provider or intermediary that uses a contribution for an ineligible purpose shall repay to the Department the value of the tax credit used for such ineligible purpose.

Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable or transferable, but may be carried forward for up to six tax years. Notwithstanding this provision, taxpayers that are exempt for federal tax purposes shall be eligible for a refund of any tax credits received under this act, as described in the act.

The maximum amount of tax credits that shall be authorized in a calendar year shall not exceed $20 million. If the maximum amount of tax credits is authorized in a calendar year, the maximum amount of tax credits that may be authorized in subsequent years shall be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases in the allowable amount of tax credits shall be reserved for contributions made to child care providers located in a child care desert, as such term is defined in the act.

This provision shall sunset on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. (Section 135.1310)

EMPLOYER PROVIDED CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT

This act establishes the "Employer-Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act".

For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, this act authorizes a tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of qualified child care expenditures, as defined in the act, paid or incurred by an employer with two or more employees providing child care for its employees. The amount of the tax credit authorized under this act shall not exceed $200,000 per taxpayer per tax year. A facility shall not be considered a child care facility for the purposes of the act unless enrollment in the facility is open to the dependents of the taxpayer during the tax year, provided that the dependents fall within the age range ordinarily cared for by, and only require a level of care ordinarily provided by, such facility.

Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable or transferable, but may be carried forward for up to six tax years. Notwithstanding this provision, taxpayers that are exempt for federal tax purposes shall be eligible for a refund of any tax credits received under this act, as described in the act.

The maximum amount of tax credits that shall be authorized in a calendar year shall not exceed $20 million. If the maximum amount of tax credits is authorized in a calendar year, the maximum amount of tax credits that may be authorized in subsequent years shall be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases in the allowable amount of tax credits shall be reserved for qualified child care expenditures for child care facilities located in a child care desert, as such term is defined in the act.

Tax credits authorized by this act shall be subject to recapture, as described in the act.

This provision shall sunset on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. (Section 135.1325)

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TAX CREDIT

This act establishes the "Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act".

For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, this act authorizes child care providers with three or more employees to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to the child care provider's eligible employer withholding tax, as defined in the act, and may also claim a tax credit in an amount up to 30% of the child care provider's capital expenditures, as defined in the act, provided that such capital expenditures are not less than $1,000. The amount of the tax credit authorized under this act shall not exceed $200,000 per child care provider per tax year.

A child care provider shall submit to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education an application for the tax credit on a form to be provided by the Department. The child care provider shall provide proof of any capital expenditures for which the provider is claiming a tax credit.

Tax credits authorized by the act shall not be refundable or transferable, but may be carried forward for up to six tax years. Notwithstanding this provision, taxpayers that are exempt for federal tax purposes shall be eligible for a refund of any tax credits received under this act, as described in the act.

The maximum amount of tax credits that shall be authorized in a calendar year shall not exceed $20 million. If the maximum amount of tax credits is authorized in a calendar year, the maximum amount of tax credits that may be authorized in subsequent years shall be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases in the allowable amount of tax credits shall be reserved for child care providers located in a child care desert, as such term is defined in the act.

This provision shall sunset on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. (Section 135.1350)

This act is identical to HB 269 (2025), SB 742 (2024), and HB 1488 (2024), and to provisions in SCS/HB 2170 (2024), and is substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 143 (2023), SCS/SB 184 (2023), SB 509 (2023), SS#3/HCS/HB 268 (2023), HCS/HB 350 (2023), SCS/HCS/HB 668 (2023), and HCS/HB 870 (2023).

JOSH NORBERG

This amendment is identical to SJR 55 (2024) and SJR 13 (2023) and substantially similar to HCS/HJR 68 (2024), SJR 46 (2022), SJR 10 (2021), SJR 47 (2020), and SJR 17 (2017).

JOSH NORBERG