Good morning MACRAO membership-
The MACRAO Government Relations Committee wanted to share with you a summary of some additional House and Senate bills that were proposed since our last update in early February that may be of interest to the MACRAO membership, which are listed below. The status of these bills (and those previously shared) will be updated periodically throughout the spring semester as legislative session progression occurs. Currently, none of the previously reported bills have advanced any further than related committees at this stage of the legislative session. Additionally, we have shared some articles below that we felt may be of interest to MACRAO members.
MACRAO Government Relations Committee
[email protected]
Additional House Bills Proposed
HB 3403 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3403&year=2026&code=R
Sponsor: Eric Woods (D)
Synopsis: Creates a new state holiday for election day and requires colleges and universities to close unless used as a polling place.
Status: Read second time.
HB 3439 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3439&year=2026&code=R
Sponsor: Peggy McGaugh (R)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions relating to eligibility of firefighters for a program that provides free college tuition for public safety personnel. Adds volunteer firefighter eligibility.
Status: Read second time. Similar to HB 3480 and SB 1768.
HB 3461 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3461&year=2026&code=R
Sponsor: Nick Kimble (D)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions relating to eligibility for a program that provides free college tuition for public safety personnel. Adds crime laboratory technician eligibility.
Status: Read second time.
HB 3480 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3480&year=2026&code=R
Sponsor: Mitch Boggs (R)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions relating to eligibility of firefighters for a program that provides free college tuition for public safety personnel. Adds volunteer firefighter eligibility.
Status: Read second time. Similar to HB 3439 and SB 1768.
Additional Senate Bills Proposed
SB 1003 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=630)
Sponsor: Adam Schnelting (R)
Synopsis: Modifies various provisions relating to military affairs. Currently, the tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at Missouri higher education institutions to Missouri National Guard members apply after GI Bill educational entitlements. This act repeals this provision. This means students would no longer require to use federal GI benefits before waiving tuition and fees, thus institutions will likely be required to waive more tuition and fees. In other words, the waiver would apply to first dollar costs, not last. Students could save the benefits to use later or for dependents if applicable.
Status: Passed out of committee.
SB 1660 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4373494)
Sponsor: Maggie Nurrenbern (D)
Synopsis: Prohibits public institutions of higher education from accepting examination scores from testing entities that require disabled individuals to undergo comprehensive testing for disabilities that do not change over time.
Status: First read.
SB 1768 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/26Info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=6616210)
Sponsor: Rick Brattin (R)
Synopsis: Modifies the definition of "firefighter" under the Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act.
Status: First read. Similar to HB 3439 and 3480.
SB 1800 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=6619197)
Sponsor: Nick Schroer (R)
Synopsis: Creates provisions relating to expressive activity at postsecondary educational institutions.
Status: First read.
Federal Legislation Passed
HR 983 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/983)
Sponsor : Van Orden, Derrick (R-Wisconsin)
Synopsis: This is the Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025. This bill requires that the Department of Veterans Affairs disapprove courses of education provided by educational institutions that charge higher than in-state tuition for individuals utilizing the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve education benefits (1606) while living in the state where the education is located, regardless of the individual’s state of residence. Synopsis provided by Keith Glindemann (Director, MU Student Veterans Resource and Support Center).
Status: Signed into law. Effective August 1, 2026.
Articles of Interest
AACRAO Transcript: AACRAO Joins Community Comment Related to One Big Beautiful Bill’s Changes
Higher Ed Dive: Indiana public colleges must soon accept this alternative to the SAT and ACT | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: Public colleges could face pressure amid state budget woes, Fitch says | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: ‘We will hold institutions accountable,’ top US education official vows | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: Education Department to nix race-based criteria for McNair program | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: GSA plan would ban DEI for all federal funding recipients — including colleges | Higher Ed Dive
Inside Higher Ed: Research Offices Ask for Extension on Admissions Survey
Inside Higher Ed: CBO: Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall
Inside Higher Ed: Indiana Bill Would Use Federal Earnings Test to End Programs
