Good morning MACRAO membership-

The Missouri Legislature reopened on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. The MACRAO Government Relations Committee wanted to share with you a summary of some of the House and Senate bills that were pre-filed that may be of interest to the MACRAO membership, which are listed below. The status of these bills (and additional bills proposed) will be reported periodically throughout the spring semester as legislative session progression occurs. Additionally, as we near the January 20 presidential inauguration, we have shared some articles related to the status of some federal regulations.

MACRAO Government Relations Committee
[email protected]

MISSOURI HOUSE BILLS

HB 90 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB90&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Dave Griffith (R)
Synopsis: This bill repeals provision restrictions related to the authority to confer research doctorates and first-professional degrees (including dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine), and degrees in chiropractic, osteopathic medicine, and podiatry.
Status: Prefiled

HB 168 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB168&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Donnie Brown (R)
Synopsis: This bill establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Grant program for Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program award recipients.
Status: Prefiled

HB 183 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB183&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Cameron Parker (R)
Synopsis: Modifies the “Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act.” Would require the transition of Core 42 to a 60-credit hour program that must be in place by June 30, 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Would require 60 transferable, lower-division credits to receive academic credit towards their specific degree program and the student shall not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution for the same degree program. The five proposed areas are a) general business, b) elementary education and teaching, c) general psychology, d) registered nursing, and 3) general biology or biological science, or both.
Status: Prefiled

HB 265 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB265&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Brenda Shields (R)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions governing certain postsecondary education financial assistance awards. Raises the minimum and maximum award amount based on student aid index (the amount of money a student and family should pay towards the const of postsecondary education as calculated by the US Department of Education) effective the 2025-2026 academic year.
Status: Prefiled

HB 288 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB288&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Raychel Proudie (D)
Synopsis: Excepts state legislators from paying labor costs associated with responding to sunshine law requests.
Status: Prefiled

HB 291 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB291&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Kemp Strickler (D)
Synopsis: Requires in-state public educational institutions to grant undergraduate course credit for students who score 4 or higher on international baccalaureate examinations. The bill does not contain language that distinguishes between SL and HL exams.
Status: Prefiled

HB 331 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB331&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Ann Kelley (R)
Synopsis: Establishment of the “Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program. Beginning in 2026-2027, the department shall establish a procedure for the reimbursement of the cost of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program or study or a training program. Further definition of eligible programs and reimbursement restrictions outlined in the bill.
Status: Prefiled

HB 358 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB358&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Yolanda Young (D)
Synopsis: Establishment of a new state holiday (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years) for election day. Requires college and university to close unless used as a polling place.
Status: Prefiled

HB 419 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB419&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Don Mayhew (R)
Synopsis: Clarifies that military personnel are eligible for in-state tuition for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Status: Prefiled

HB 427 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB427&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Wick Thomas (D)
Synopsis: Requires an individual to be deemed a Missouri resident (for the purposes of tuition, fees, and admission) is both of the following conditions are met: 1) the individual graduated from a public or private high school, home school, or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Missouri, and 2) in the case of an individual who is not a citizen or permanent US resident, the individual provides the higher education institution with a written statement in which the individual agrees to regularize the individual’s citizenship or permanent residency status if and when the individual is eligible to do so. Also states no MO higher education institution receiving state funds shall deny admittance to an individual based solely on the individual’s immigration status, provided the above requirements are satisfied.
Status: Prefiled

HB 442 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB442&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Marla Smith (D)
Synopsis: Establishes the “College Admission and Financial Aid Letter Consistency Task Force.” Desires to develop a standard admission letter and financial aid award letter to be used by all public colleges and universities.
Status: Prefiled

HB 496 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB496&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Brad Christ (R)
Synopsis: Creates the “First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act” to provide free college tuition for first responders and their legal dependents.
Status: Prefiled

HB 659 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB659&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Adrian Plank (D)
Synopsis: Provides that Veterans Day shall be a public holiday for all employees of the University of Missouri System.
Status: Prefiled

HB 678 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB678&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Michael Johnson(D)
Synopsis: Designates the week of September 24 to 30 each year as “Historically Black College and University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Week.”
Status: Prefiled

MISSOURI SENATE BILLS

SB 11 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=133)
Sponsor: Lincoln Hough (R)
Synopsis: This bill repeals provision restrictions related to the authority to confer research doctorates and first-professional degrees (including dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine), and degrees in chiropractic, osteopathic medicine, and podiatry.
Status: Prefiled

SB 27 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=492)
Sponsor: Mike Moon (R)
Synopsis: Creates a higher education endowment tax to be imposed on the endowments of qualifying institutions of higher education at a rate of 1.9% of aggregate fair market value of endowment assets. Applied to the endowments of higher education institutions that 1) are affiliated with, or provide medical faculty to, any abortion facility, 2) offer specific medical residencies or fellowships that offer training in performing or inducing abortions, or 3) support in any manner any abortion facility where abortions are performed or induced when not necessary to save the life of the mother. Any institution that becomes a qualifying institution of higher education on or after January 1, 2026, shall remain subject to the tax imposed by the act regardless of whether such institution no longer meets the definition of qualifying institution of higher education as defined in the act. For all tax years in which the higher education endowment tax is activated, this act would also reduce the top rate of individual income tax by 0.17%.
Status: Prefiled

SB 38 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=250)
Sponsor: Barbara Washington (D)
Synopsis: Creates the “Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act” to prohibit certain discriminatory practices in educational institutions.
Status: Prefiled

SB 55 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=432)
Sponsor: Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R)
Synopsis: Prohibits education institutions (including postsecondary education) from being members of statewide or national intercollegiate athletics organization that allows students to take performance enhancing drugs. Any institution violating this act shall not receive state aid or other revenues from the state.
Status: Prefiled

SB 69 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=423)
Sponsor: Elaine Gannon (R)
Synopsis: Modifies the “Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act.” Would require the transition of Core 42 to a 60-credit hour program that must be in place by June 30, 2027 for the 2028-2029 academic year. Would require 60 transferable, lower-division credits to receive academic credit towards their specific degree program and the student shall not be required to take additional core curriculum courses at the receiving institution for the same degree program. The five proposed areas are a) general business, b) elementary education and teaching, c) general psychology, d) registered nursing, and 3) general biology or biological science, or both.
Status: Prefiled

SB 71 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=522)
Sponsor: Andrew Koenig (R)
Synopsis: Creates the “First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act” to provide free college tuition for first responders and their legal dependents.
Status: Prefiled

SB 89 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=483)
Sponsor: Caleb Rowden (R)
Synopsis: Provides that Veterans Day shall be a public holiday for all employees of the University of Missouri System.
Status: Prefiled

SB 150 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=106)
Sponsor: Jill Carter (R)
Synopsis: Establishment of the “Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program. Beginning in 2026-2027, the department shall establish a procedure for the reimbursement of the cost of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program or study or a training program. Further definition of eligible programs and reimbursement restrictions outlined in the bill.
Status: Prefiled

SB 160 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=363)
Sponsor: Brad Hudson (R)
Synopsis: This act prohibits public institutions of higher learning, such as state colleges, community colleges, and technical schools, from taking adverse action against a student association because of the association's beliefs or the actions of its leaders. Specifically, these institutions shall not deny a belief-based student association, such as a political, ideological, or religious association, any benefits that are available to other student groups, including access to campus facilities and communication channels. A belief-based student association shall be responsible for defining its own mission, beliefs, and conduct standards. A belief-based student association may seek relief in a judicial or administrative proceeding against an institution that violates the provisions of the act.
Status: Prefiled

SB 243 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=480)
Sponsor: Maggie Nurrenbern (D)
Synopsis: Requires in-state public educational institutions to grant undergraduate course credit for students who score 4 or higher on international baccalaureate examinations. The bill does not contain language that distinguishes between SL and HL exams.
Status: Prefiled

SB 279 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=108)
Sponsor: Jill Carter (R)
Synopsis: Adds health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences to the mission of Missouri Southern State University.
Status: Prefiled

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Inside Higher Ed: What's Next for Colleges After Judge Vacates Biden's Title IX Rule

Inside Higher Ed: Biden Leaves Behind a Graveyard of Higher Ed Policies

Inside Higher Ed: Should the US Regulate Cost of Attendance?