Tracking List: A1-Aligned Priority

HB3 - Rep. Dirk Deaton (R) - APPROPRIATIONS BILL

Last Action:

04/03/2025

S - Reported to the Senate and not read

HB215 - Rep. Aaron Crossley (D) - Authorizes the "Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act", the "Employer-Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act", and the "Child Care Providers Tax Credit", relating to tax credits for child care

Summary:

CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT ACT (Section 135.1310)

This bill establishes the "Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a taxpayer may claim a tax credit, against its state liability for that tax year, for verified contributions to a child care provider in an amount equal to 75% of the contribution. The tax credit issued must not be less than $100,000 and must not exceed $200,000 per tax year.

A child care provider or intermediary must apply to the Department of Economic Development using the Department's approved form. The Department makes a determination on eligibility, enters into an agreement with the child care provider, who would then receive a tax credit. A child care provider or intermediary who receives a contribution must file a contribution verification with the Department as specified in the bill.

To be eligible for the tax credit, a contribution must be:

(1) Used directly by a child care provider to promote child care for children 12 years of age or younger;

(2) Distributed in full by the intermediary within two years of receipt to one or more child care providers, if made to an intermediary;

(3) Made to a child care provider or intermediary in which the taxpayer or a person related to the taxpayer does not have a direct financial interest; and

(4) Not made in exchange for care of a child or children in the case of an individual taxpayer that is not an employer making a contribution on behalf of its employees.

The tax credits authorized by this section are not refundable and shall not transferred, sold, or otherwise conveyed. The amount of tax credits authorized must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits will be increased by 15%, provided that all the increases of tax credits are reserved for contributions made to child care providers located in a child care desert. Tax credits allowed under this section are considered a "domestic and social tax credit" under the provisions of the Tax Credit Accountability Act.

The program sunsets on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized.

EMPLOYER PROVIDED CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT ACT (Section 135.1325)

This bill establishes the "Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a taxpayer with two or more employees may claim a tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of the qualified child care expenditures paid or incurred with respect to a child care facility. The maximum amount of any tax credit issued must not exceed $200,000 per taxpayer per tax year.

For the purposes of this provision, "taxpayer" is defined as a corporation defined in Chapter 143, RSMo; any charitable organization exempt from federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the state income tax under Chapter 143; or individuals or partnerships subject to the state income tax imposed by the provisions of Chapter 143.

A facility must not be treated as a child care facility with respect to a taxpayer unless enrollment in the facility is open to the dependents of the taxpayer's employees during the tax year, provided that the dependents are within the age range ordinarily cared for by, and only require a level of care ordinarily provided by, the facility.

The tax credits can not be refundable, transferable, sold, assigned, or otherwise conveyed. The amount of tax credits must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits will be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases of tax credits are reserved for child care expenditures for child care facilities located in a child care desert.

Tax credits allowed under this section are considered a "domestic and social tax credit" under the provisions of the Tax Credit Accountability Act.

The program sunsets on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized.

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TAX CREDIT ACT (Section 135.1350) This bill also establishes the "Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a child care provider with three or more employees may claim a tax credit in an amount equal to the child care provider's eligible employer withholding tax, and may also claim a tax credit in an amount up to 30% of the child care provider's capital expenditures. No tax credit for capital expenditures will be allowed if the capital expenditures are less than $1,000. The amount of any tax credit issued must not exceed $200,000 per child care provider per tax year.

To claim a tax credit for capital expenditures, a child care provider must present proof acceptable to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that the expenditures fall within the definition of capital expenditure, as defined in the bill.

The tax credits can not be refundable, transferred, sold, assigned, or otherwise conveyed. Any amount of credit that exceeds the child care provider's state tax liability for the tax year for which the tax credit is issued may be carried forward to the child care provider's subsequent tax year for up to six succeeding tax years. The amount of tax credits authorized pursuant to this section must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits will be increased by 15%, provided that all of the tax credits are reserved for contributions made to child care providers located in a child care desert.

The program sunsets on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized.

This bill is the same as HB 1488 (2024) and similar to HB 870 (2023)

Last Action:

01/09/2025

H - Read Second Time

HB269 - Rep. Brenda Shields (R) - Authorizes the "Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act", the "Employer-Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act", and the "Child Care Providers Tax Credit", relating to tax credits for child care

Summary:

HB 269 -- TAX CREDITS FOR CHILD CARE (Shields)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Economic Development

CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTION TAX CREDIT ACT

This bill establishes the "Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a taxpayer may claim a tax credit for verified contributions to a child care provider in an amount up to 75% of the contribution. The tax credit issued must not be less than $100, and must not exceed $200,000 per tax year.

A child care provider or intermediary must apply to the Department of Economic Development using the Department's approved form. The Department makes a determination on eligibility, enters into an agreement with the child care provider, who would then receive a tax credit. A child care provider or intermediary who receives a contribution must file a contribution verification with the Department as further explained in the bill.

To be eligible for the tax credit, a contribution:

(1) Is used directly by a child care provider to promote child care for children 12 years of age or younger;

(2) If made to an intermediary, distributed in full by the intermediary within two years of receipt to one or more child care providers;

(3) Is made to a child care provider in which the taxpayer or a person related to the taxpayer does not have a direct financial interest; and

(4) Is not made in exchange for care of a child or children in the case of an individual taxpayer that is not an employer making a contribution on behalf of its employees.

The tax credits authorized by this section are not refundable and can not be transferred, sold, or otherwise conveyed. The amount of tax credits authorized must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits must be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases of tax credits must be reserved for contributions made to child care providers located in a "child care desert", as defined in the bill.

Tax credits allowed under this section are considered a "domestic and social tax credit" under the provisions of the Tax Credit Accountability Act. The program sunsets December 31, 2031.

EMPLOYER PROVIDED CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE TAX CREDIT ACT

This bill also establishes the "Employer Provided Child Care Assistance Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a taxpayer with two or more employees may claim a tax credit in an amount equal to 30% of the qualified child care expenditures paid or incurred with respect to a child care facility. The maximum amount of any tax credit issued must not exceed $200,000 per taxpayer per tax year.

For the purposes of this provision, "taxpayer" is defined as a corporation defined in Chapter 143, RSMo; any charitable organization exempt from Federal income tax and whose Missouri unrelated business taxable income, if any, would be subject to the State income tax under Chapter 143; or individuals or partnerships subject to the state income tax imposed by the provisions of Chapter 143.

A facility will not be treated as a child care facility with respect to a taxpayer unless enrollment in the facility is open to the dependents of the taxpayer's employees during the tax year, provided that the dependents are within the age range ordinarily cared for by, and only require a level of care ordinarily provided by, such facility.

The tax credits can not be refundable, transferable, sold, assigned, or otherwise conveyed. The amount of tax credits must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year. If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits will be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases of tax credits will be reserved for contributions for child care facilities located in a child care desert.

Tax credits allowed under this section are considered a "domestic and social tax credit" under the provisions of the Tax Credit Accountability Act.

The program sunsets December 31, 2031.

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS TAX CREDIT ACT

This bill also establishes the "Child Care Providers Tax Credit Act". Beginning January 1, 2026, a child care provider with three or more employees may claim a tax credit in an amount equal to the child care provider's eligible employer withholding tax, and may also claim a tax credit in an amount up to 30% of the child care provider's capital expenditures.

No tax credit for capital expenditures will be allowed if the capital expenditures are less than $1,000. The amount of any tax credit issued must not exceed $200,000 per child care provider per tax year.

To claim a tax credit for capital expenditures, a child care provider must present proof acceptable to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that the expenditures fall within the definition of "capital expenditure", as defined in the bill.

The tax credits are not refundable and cannot be transferred, sold, assigned, or otherwise conveyed. Any amount of credit that exceeds the child care provider's State tax liability for the tax year for which the tax credit is issued may be carried forward to the child care provider's immediately prior tax year or carried forward to the child care provider's subsequent tax year for up to six succeeding tax years. The amount of tax credits authorized pursuant to this section must not exceed $20 million for each calendar year.

If the maximum amount of tax credits allowed in any calendar year is authorized, the maximum amount of tax credits will be increased by 15%, provided that all such increases of tax credits must be reserved for contributions made to child care providers located in a child care desert.

The program sunsets December 31, 2031.

Last Action:

03/13/2025

S - Referred to committee - Senate-Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

HB297 - Rep. David Tyson Smith (D) - Requires the authorization to establish a charter school in Boone County to be approved by a vote of the school district voters

Summary:

Currently charter schools are authorized to operate in Boone County. This bill requires approval by voters within the school district that the charter is seeking to be established before such charter is allowed.

The bill also removes limits on which charter schools are eligible to receive local aid as provided under Section 160.415 RSMo to include all established charter schools.

Last Action:

01/09/2025

H - Read Second Time

HB298 - Rep. David Tyson Smith (D) - Repeals provisions authorizing the establishment of charter schools in Boone County

Summary:

Currently charter schools are authorized to be established in Boone County. This bill removes that authority and prevents a charter school from being established in the county.

Last Action:

01/09/2025

H - Read Second Time

HB306 - Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D) - Requires public school districts and charter schools to prevent student use of electronic personal communications devices during regularly scheduled instructional activities

Summary:

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year school, districts and charter schools must have a policy governing the use of an electronic personal communications device in school. Policies must promote educational interests and safe working environments. Students may not use electronic personal communications devices during instructional activities and policies must provide disciplinary procedures and exceptions. Districts and charter schools must publish the policy on the school website and the bill specifies liability protections for acting in accordance with the policy.

This bill is similar to HB 2889 (2024).

Last Action:

02/13/2025

H - Superseded by HB 408 - House-Elementary and Secondary Education

HB711 - Rep. Brad Pollitt (R) - Establishes transfer procedures to nonresident districts for students in public schools

Summary:

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).

Last Action:

03/24/2025

S - Referred to committee - Senate-Education

HB941 - Rep. Ed Lewis (R) - Prohibits school districts from using a three-cueing system model of reading instruction

Summary:

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 20 to 1.

The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 941.

This bill prohibits school districts from using a three-cueing system to teach students to read words. The bill defines a "three- cueing system" as any model of teaching students to read based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues, also known as "MSV". Reading instruction may include some components of "MSV" however it will not be used for word reading.

This bill is similar to SB 556 (2025).

The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and schools are working toward teaching using the system put in place a few years ago using phonics as the primary technique. Outdated systems like the "three-cueing" system do more harm than good with students often guessing and students with dyslexia never able to really learn to read.

Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Lewis; EXCELINED; Kathryn Bonney; and ALIGNED.

OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say the emphasis on the importance of learning to read and the successfulness that a solid foundation in reading has on other subjects is important. The current system of training teachers in the science of reading and addressing the concerns of the "MVS" system is ongoing.

Testifying in person on the bill were Missouri NEA and Perry Gorrell.

Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.

Last Action:

03/31/2025

H - Placed on Informal Calendar

HJR7 - Rep. Dave Griffith (R) - Proposes a constitutional amendment dividing state revenues from gaming activities between public institutions of elementary, secondary, and higher education and the administration of the Missouri veterans commission

Summary:

COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Ways and Means by a vote of 5 to 3.

Upon voter approval, this proposed Constitutional amendment changes the allocation of state revenues derived from the conduct of all gaming activities from solely for the public institutions of elementary, secondary, and higher education to now 90% appropriated for the public institutions of elementary, secondary, and higher education and 10% to the administration of the Missouri Veterans Commission. This allocation of appropriation has an effective date of July 1, 2027.

This bill is the same as HJR 74 (2024) and is similar to HJR 12 (2023).

PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill will generate more funding and sustainable funding for the MO Veterans Commission. Supporters say that going down to 10% will generate approximately $36 million.

Testifying in person for the bill was Representative Griffith.

OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this pot of money was voted on by voters to be for education. This bill would divert the funds from that purpose.

Testifying in person against the bill was Missouri School Boards' Association.

Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.

Last Action:

03/11/2025

H - Referred to committee - House-Rules-Administrative

SB70 - Sen. David Gregory (R) - Allows the enrollment of nonresident students in public school districts

Summary:

SB 70 - This act establishes the "Public School Open Enrollment Act" to enable students to transfer from their district of residence ("resident district") to a nonresident district.

MAGNET SCHOOLS (Section 163.161)

Under this act, any school district that operates magnet schools as part of a master desegregation settlement agreement shall not be considered inefficient for purposes of state aid for transportation of pupils attending such magnet schools and shall not receive a financial penalty for the magnet school transportation portion of the overall transportation budget.

This provision is identical to HB 672 (2023) and provisions in SB 1051 (2024), HCS/HB 1989 (2024), HCS/SS#2/SCS/SBs 4, 42, & 89 (2023), SB 5 (2023), HCS/HB 253 (2023), and SB 1010 (2022).

TRANSFER POLICY AND PARTICIPATION (Section 167.1205)

On or before October 1st of each year, each school district and charter school shall indicate whether it will participate in the open enrollment program during the subsequent school year. Participating districts and schools may accept transferring nonresident students from any other school district. For the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, a district may restrict the number of students who may transfer away from the school district to a maximum of 5% of the district's enrollment for the prior year. The act shall not be construed to require any school to add teachers, staff, or classrooms.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop a model policy to assist school districts and charter schools in determining the number of transfers available and establishing specific standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications. The model policy shall be adopted by all school districts and charter schools, whether or not they participate in the program, and may be modified to meet each school district's or charter school's particular needs. The model policy shall require each school district or charter school to define "insufficient classroom space" and may provide additional standards for evaluating transfer applications.

Nonresident districts shall accept credits toward graduation from other school districts and shall award a diploma to any transferring student who meets the nonresident district's graduation requirements.

Superintendents shall cause information regarding the open enrollment program to be posted on the school district's or charter school's website and in the school district's or charter school's student handbook.

A student seeking to transfer to a magnet school, an academically selective school, or a school with a competitive entrance process shall submit proof that the student meets all admission requirements.

A student may be denied transfer if, in the most recent school year, he or she has been suspended from school two or more times, was suspended for an act of school violence, or was expelled for acts that school administrators are required to report to law enforcement under current law. Such a student may alternatively be permitted to transfer on a provisional, probationary basis subject to no further disruptive behavior based on standards that shall be developed by the nonresident district. Students denied transfer shall have the right to an in-person meeting with the nonresident district's superintendent.

A 9th to 12th grade transfer student shall be ineligible to participate in varsity sports during the first 365 days of such student's enrollment in a nonresident district, unless the student meets certain conditions as provided in the act. A statewide activities association may provide additional penalties if the student was unduly influenced to transfer for reasons related to participation in sports.

APPLYING FOR TRANSFER (Section 167.1210)

Students may transfer into only one nonresident district per school year. Transferring students shall commit to attending and taking all courses through the nonresident district for at least one school year, and at least one such course shall be in-seat. Students who transfer back to their resident districts shall reapply in order to transfer back into a nonresident district and shall first remain in the resident district for at least one full semester.

A sibling of a transferring student may also enroll in the same nonresident district to which his or her sibling transfers, subject to limitations based on school capacity and the student's disciplinary record.

Except for students who qualify for reimbursement of transportation costs as described in the act and for agreements allowing such students to be picked up at an existing bus stop, transferring students or their parents shall be responsible for transportation to and from nonresident districts. By agreement with a nonresident district, parents of transferring students may waive requirements for such a district to provide transportation required under the student's individualized education program.

Any student who qualifies for free and reduced price lunch and transfers to an a nonresident district sharing a border with the student's resident district shall be reimbursed quarterly by the Parent Public School Choice Fund established in this act, based on calculations described in the act.

PARENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE FUNDS (Sections 167.1211 and 167.1212)

Nonresident districts shall receive reimbursement for the costs of certain special educational services for transferring students. Such reimbursement shall not exceed three times the district's current expenditure per average daily attendance. The reimbursement shall come from the Parent Public School Choice Fund established in the act. The Fund shall consist of an appropriation of $60 million and any subsequent appropriations. The Department shall annually evaluate the availability and use of moneys from the fund. If additional moneys are needed to fulfill the purposes of the act, the Department shall request such moneys by a specific line item appropriation.

NUMBER OF TRANSFER STUDENTS (Section 167.1215)

Before October 1st annually, each school district and charter school shall set the number of transferring students such district or charter school is willing to accept for the following school year. The district or charter school may set criteria, including limits on the number of students to be accepted to particular buildings, grades, classrooms, or programs. Districts and charter schools shall publish and notify the Department of such information.

Each school district and charter school shall develop a procedure for creating a waiting list for all transfer applications when applications exceed the district's or charter school's maximum. In accepting students from the waiting list, nonresident districts shall give additional priority to students in the following order: siblings of transfer students, children of active duty military personnel, children of school district or charter school employees, students who previously attended school in the school district or charter school as resident students, and students whose parents' employment circumstances would cause transfer to be in the student's best interest. Nonresident districts may also include other priority factors. Parents of applicants shall be informed of how the waiting list shall operate and may be required to reapply to remain on the waiting list.

APPLICATION PROCESS (Section 167.1220)

A student's transfer application shall be submitted to the nonresident and resident districts on a form approved by the Department before December 1st in the year prior to the school year in which the student seeks to transfer. Nonresident districts shall mark the date and time of receipt on each such application received. Applications shall be reviewed and decided upon by the superintendent of the nonresident district. Reasons for any rejection shall be submitted to the school board or charter school governing body for review. Rejection decisions may be finalized only by a majority vote of the school board or governing body.

School boards and governing bodies of charter schools may adopt a policy granting the superintendent authority to approve transfer applications submitted after the December 1st deadline if conditions described in the act are met, including a finding of good cause. The act provides additional procedures related to the timing of late applications. Resident districts may appeal the decisions of nonresident districts for suspected violations of provisions of the act relating to late applications. The Commissioner of Education or a three member panel selected by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission shall mediate such disputes and shall conduct a hearing if the mediation is unsuccessful. A decision shall be issued within 10 days of such hearing and may be appealed within 5 days.

The superintendents of nonresident districts shall notify the parents of transfer applicants before February 1st whether the application has been accepted or rejected. Such notice shall include, if the application is rejected, the reason for a rejection, or, if the application is accepted, an enrollment deadline and instructions for renewing the transfer enrollment.

AUTHORIZED EXEMPTIONS (Section 167.1225)

The provisions of the Public School Open Enrollment Act shall not supercede any provision of an enforceable desegregation court order or a court-approved desegregation plan. A school district may declare an exemption from the Act if the district is subject to such an order or desegregation plan, or if the district is subject to a settlement agreement to remedy past segregation. Such exemption is irrevocable for one year from the date the district gives notice to the Department. Notice of a district's exemption or intent to resume participation in open enrollment for the next school year shall be issued to the Department by April 1st. Before June 1st of each year, the Department shall report to each school district the maximum number of transfers under the Public School Open Enrollment Act for the next school year.

When students are unable to transfer due to an exemption declared by a school district due to a court order, desegregation plan, or segregation-related settlement agreement, such students shall be given priority for any transfers in the subsequent school year by the resident district in the order application notices were received from such students.

A school district with an approved or voluntary diversity plan may deny a Public School Open Enrollment Act transfer if the district determines that the transfer conflicts with such plan.

Students transferring to nonresident districts pursuant to provisions of current law allowing transfer if the resident district does not offer high school instruction, under the Elementary and Secondary School District Enrollment Option Act, or through the Metropolitan Schools Achieving Value in Transfer Corporation, shall not be subject to the requirements of the Public School Open Enrollment Act. School districts participating in such programs shall also not be subject to such requirements. Students transferring pursuant to the Public School Open Enrollment Act shall not be considered transfer students for purposes of other provisions of current law allowing transfers.

APPEAL PROCEDURE (Section 167.1230)

Students whose transfer applications are rejected may file an appeal with the Department or a three member panel selected by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. The appeal shall be sent in writing within 10 days after the student or the student's parent receives notice of rejection. A copy of the appeal shall also be sent to the superintendent of the nonresident district where the applicant seeks to transfer. The appeal shall state the basis for appeal, shall include a copy of the notice of rejection, and may include documentation to show that the transfer would be in the student's best interest. The nonresident district may submit additional documentation or arguments supporting the rejection decision to the Department or the three member panel, and shall submit copies of any such response to the student or student's parent, no later than 10 days after receiving a copy of the appeal. The Department or the three member panel shall notify the parent, nonresident district, and resident district of the basis for the Department's or panel's decision if it overturns the rejection.

The Department shall collect data from school districts and each charter school sponsor shall collect data from each sponsored charter school on the number of applications made under the act to study its effects. The Department shall consider the maximum number of transfers and exemptions for up to two years to determine whether a significant racially segregative impact has occurred in any school district. Before October 1st of each year, the Department and each charter school sponsor shall report its findings to the Joint Committee on Education, the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and any other education committee designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

This act is substantially similar to SB 1051 (2024) and is similar to HCS/HB 1989 (2024), SCS/SB 5 (2023), HCS/HB 253 (2023), SB 1010 (2022), HB 1814 (2022), and HS/HCS/HB 543 (2021).

OLIVIA SHANNON

Last Action:

02/11/2025

S - Superseded by SB 215 - Senate-Education

SB177 - Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern (D) - Requires charter schools to obtain a certificate of need issued by the State Board of Education in order to be eligible to operate

Summary:

SB 177 - Under this act, no charter school established on or after August 28, 2025, shall be eligible to operate in Missouri without the State Board of Education's issuance of a certificate of need for such charter school as provided in the act. A certificate of need shall be required only for proposed charter schools that are not established as of August 28, 2025, and shall not be required for charter renewals or transfers of sponsorship. The act shall not be construed to exempt charter schools from state laws governing charter contracts or any other applicable state or federal law or regulation.

The certificate of need application shall be a written certification, including supporting documentation, submitted by the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the city or county in which the proposed charter school would be operated, affirming that certain conditions apply to the school district in which the charter school would be operated. The certificate of need application shall affirm that consumer demand for alternative educational options exceeds supply, and that the school district has sufficient economies of scale, as such term is defined in the act, to enable the charter school to succeed without detrimentally impacting the school district's ability to provide a free public education. The certificate of need application shall also affirm that the charter school is likely to alleviate economic and racial inequities; improve students' academic achievement; reduce student-teacher ratios; improve efficiencies in education service delivery; reduce the number of schooling disruptions faced by children and families; and address other family priorities specified in the act.

The State Board of Education shall review each charter school certificate of need application and either approve or disapprove each application within 120 calendar days of receipt. If the Board determines that the information provided in the application is factual and based on sound data and reasoning, the Board shall approve the application. If the Board determines that the information provided in the application is not factual and based on sound data and reasoning, the Board shall disapprove the application and provide to the applicant written documentation of the reasons why the application was not approved.

OLIVIA SHANNON

Last Action:

03/25/2025

S - Hearing Conducted - Senate-Education

SB215 - Sen. Curtis Trent (R) - Creates, modifies, and repeals provisions relating to student transfers to nonresident districts

Summary:

SCS/SBs 215 & 70 - Current law authorizes students who reside in an unaccredited school district to transfer to an accredited school district in the same or an adjoining county under certain conditions. This act repeals and modifies provisions limiting these transfers to students in unaccredited school districts. Under the act, any student may transfer to another public school, including transfers from a student's district of residence, or "sending district", to a public school in a nonresident district, or "receiving district", beginning in the 2026-27 school year and in all subsequent school years.

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

Last Action:

02/18/2025

S - Placed on Informal Calendar

SB455 - Sen. Lincoln Hough (R) - Authorizes tax credits for child care

Summary:

SB 455 - This act establishes provisions relating to tax credits for child care.

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.

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.

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

Last Action:

04/01/2025

S - Voted Do Pass - Senate-Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

SB556 - Sen. Mike Henderson (R) - Prohibits school districts from using a three-cueing system model of reading instruction

Summary:

SB 556 - This act prohibits school districts from using a three-cueing system to teach students to read. The act defines a "three-cueing system" as any model of teaching students to read based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues, also known as "MSV".

This act is similar to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON

Last Action:

03/11/2025

S - Hearing Conducted - Senate-Education