Good evening MACRAO membership-
Below are the latest Missouri legislative updates and links to articles we thought might be of interest to the membership.
AACRAO has opened Congressional Hill Day applications. This event is held in Washington, DC from July 14-15, 2025 and allows AACRAO members to engage with congressional representatives. Applications are open to any MACRAO member. For those selected, online training is provided at no charge to help the member prepare to participate. Applications are open through Friday, April 25 with applicant notification to occur in mid-May.
Missouri Legislative Updates
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: Voted “Do Pass” out of the House Rules-Legislative Committee; full House hearing not yet schedule
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: Voted “Do Pass” out of the House Fiscal Review Committee; full House hearing not yet scheduled
HB 1017 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1017&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Chris Brown (R)
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: Voted “Do Pass” out of the House Consent and Procedures Committee; full House hearing not yet scheduled
HB 1514 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1514&year=2025&code=R)
Sponsor: Dave Hinman (R)
Synopsis: Creates the “First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act” to provide free college tuition for public safety personnel. Public safety personnel includes police officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical dispatcher, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technicians. Would be available to the public safety personnel or their legal dependents.
Status: Voted “Do Pass” out of the House Emerging Issues Committee; full House hearing not yet scheduled
Note: Replaced HB 1525 by Brad Christ (R)
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: Voted “Do Pass” out of the Senate Education Committee; full Senate hearing not yet scheduled
SB 71 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=522)
Sponsor: David Gregory (R)
Synopsis: Creates the “First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act” to provide free college tuition for first responders and their legal dependents.
Status: Passed in the Senate; moved to House
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: Passed in the Senate; moved to House
National Articles of Interest
AACRAO: Trump Administration is Considering a Sweeping Travel Ban That Would Impact International Students
AACRAO: AACRAO Executive Director Statement Regarding Executive Order on the US Department of Education
Inside Higher Ed: Assessing the Damage After the Education Department’s Mass Layoffs
Inside Higher Ed: “We’re Going to Shut It Down”-Executive Order Signed Directing Education Department Closure
Inside Higher Ed: Trump’s Plan to Move Student Loans to SBA Raises Concerns
Inside Higher Ed: Congress Eyes More Control Over Colleges
