Hello MACRAO membership-
The MACRAO Government Relations Committee wanted to provide you a legislative update. Currently, none of the previously reported bills have passed at this stage of the legislative session. There are a small number that have progress updates that we have provided below.
HB 2003 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2003&year=2026&code=R)
Sponsor: Dirk Deaton (R)
Synopsis: Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. Legislation proposes movement away from funding institutions based on operational costs to a model based on full-time enrollment numbers.
Status: Has passed House. Moved to Senate.
HB 3332 (https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3332&year=2217&code=R)
Sponsor: Mark Matthiesen (R)
Synopsis: Modifies provisions relating to employment benefits related to higher education for first responders.
Status: Passed out of House Crime and Public Safety Committee, but has not yet went to the House floor for full hearing.
SB 1617 (https://www.senate.mo.gov/BillTracking/Bills/BillInformation?year=2026&billid=3237689)
Sponsor: Rick Brattin (R)
Synopsis: Establishes the "Accountability for Low-Earning Outcome Degrees in Higher Education Act of 2026" to prohibit the allocation of state funds for low-earning outcome academic degree programs.
Status: Passed out of Senate Education Committee but has not yet went to the Senate floor for full hearing.
Additionally, we have shared some articles below that we felt may be of interest to MACRAO members.
Chronicle of Higher Education: How Is Trump Trying to Change Higher Education?
Higher Ed Dive: How higher ed would fare in Trump’s latest budget proposal | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: Indiana public colleges to cut or merge about 580 programs due to state law | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: Iowa House passes bills to dramatically shift operations at public universities | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: Kentucky Senate passes bill making it easier to cut faculty | Higher Ed Dive
Higher Ed Dive: More colleges get delay on submitting new admissions data | Higher Ed Dive
Inside Higher Ed: Trump Administration Plans Sweeping Changes to Accreditation
