Legislative Update - 2026, Week 10

LEGISLATURE LEAVES FOR SPRING BREAK

Both the House and Senate have adjourned for a week of spring break and will reconvene in full session on March 23. Both chambers will meet once during the break for a technical session. Upon return, the legislature will have eight weeks of session remaining before the session concludes on May 15.

INCOME TAX REPEAL

The House approved HCS/HJRs 173 & 174 (Bishop Davidson) on March 12 by a vote of 98-54. The original version only authorized sales tax expansion if the income tax was eliminated. The HCS creates a self-enforcing calculation to incrementally eliminate the income tax over an unknown number of years. This proposal could undermine public investment in all sectors and damage the state's economy. The Association opposes the joint resolution and elimination of the state income tax.

EARLY GRADES LITERACY

The House approved HCS/HB 2872 (Cathy Jo Loy) on March 12 by a vote of 131-10. The bill clarifies that the existing law restricting "3-cueing" strategies applies only to decoding words, and the components of 3-cueing can be used in other aspects of learning to read. The Association supports the provisions to increase oversight of literacy instruction in educator preparation programs. The bill also mandates retention in third grade for students with low scores on state-approved reading assessments unless the student is exempted for "good cause".

The House approved an amendment offered by Rep. Kem Smith that restores meaningful parental involvement in the literacy progress of struggling students. Parents of students assessed as at-risk of retention shall meet with school staff at the end of second grade. These parents acknowledge that they know of the possibility of retention, that the student will receive intensive instructional services, and that the parent will participate in parent training workshops or regular parent-guided home reading activities, or both, to support their student.

SCHOOL EMPLOYEE TRAINING SCHEDULES

The House approved HCS/HB 2335 (Ann Kelley) on March 11 by a vote of 146-2. The bill would modify laws governing school employee training requirements. The bill allows more local control of the annual training schedule for employees with more than three years of experience. The HCS extends local control over newly enacted training requirements from last session. The Association supports the bill.

PROPERTY TAXES

The House approved HB 1800 (Mark Matthiesen) on March 9 by a vote of 82-61. The bill reduces the inflation cap on property tax reassessment rollbacks from five percent to three percent. The Association is concerned that this measure will adversely affect local property tax revenues that sustain public schools and opposes the bill.

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE

The committee amended and approved the HCS versions for next year's state budget bills during a lengthy session on March 11. The House is expected to take up the budget bills after returning from break.

The HCS version of HB 2 removes the new proposal of $7.5 million for funding public school open enrollment. The primary change to the K-12 formula funding in HB 2 was to replace $64 million in general revenue funding with a fund sweep of unused Blind Pension Funds. The HCS also moves $10 million in Title I federal funds for professional development into a newly proposed competitive grant program for public school improvement.

The HCS version of HB 3 includes a sweeping shift to aid for colleges and universities. The HCS eliminates institution core funding and replaces it with a per FTE student funding amount for each institution. Some institutions will retain similar budget totals, but other institutions would see large reductions or increases. The Association is concerned that this immediate funding change will be disruptive to students, programs, and staff.

HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee heard HB 2722 (Melissa Douglas) on March 11. The bill requires the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) to establish a liaison position for homeless pupils. The sponsor asked the committee to support a substitute version based on her related bill, HB 2721, to require each higher education institution to designate a homeless liaison for coordination of support for homeless students. The Association believes that schools need to collaborate with the community and related agencies to create opportunities to enhance student access and supports the bill.

The committee also approved three bills on March 11:

HB 1767 (Ed Lewis) contains provisions regarding educator rights, parental rights, and student conduct and reflects significant input from various organizations in public education. The Association supports the bill.

HCS/HB 2918 (Scott Miller) would establish the "Cronkite New Voices Act". The bill protects the freedom of press in school-sponsored media by removing prior restraint. The Association supported the original bill. The HCS includes several additional restrictions on student journalism covered under the act.

HB 2304 (Philip Oehlerking) would require parental consent for substantive changes in placement for students with a disability. The Association believes that general and special education teachers, parents, and other professionals, as appropriate, must share in all planning and decision-making that involve placement and provision of services for students with special needs. The Association supports the bill.

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee approved four bills on March 10:

SB 1617 (Rick Brattin) would prohibit the allocation of state funds for certain low-earning outcome academic degree programs as defined in federal law.

SCS/SB 1370 (Rick Brattin) would move the current state adult virtual high school program into the Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP).

SCS/SB 1442 (Brad Hudson) would revise the law regarding reading instruction. While the Association supports regular oversight of literacy instruction in educator preparation programs, the bill contains other concerning provisions, including a restoration of mandatory retention in third grade for students with low scores on a new statewide reading assessment mandated for all students. The new retention requirement in SB 1442 does not provide for meaningful involvement of parents or guardians.

SB 1051 (Curtis Trent) would require policies against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public colleges and universities.

HOUSE PENSIONS COMMITTEE

The committee approved HCS/HB 2095 (Willard Haley) on March 11. The bill would provide a non-cumulative 2 percent annual increase to COLA-capped PSRS retirees in the year following each year when System earnings exceed the assumed rate of return (currently 7.3%) by 2% or more.

PAYCHECK DECEPTION

The House Legislative Review Committee heard HB 3067 (John Simmons) on March 10. This "paycheck deception" bill would prohibit school employees from using payroll deduction to pay membership dues or political contributions. The bill also provides that school districts and professional associations cannot restrict when an employee can join or terminate membership in the association. The Association opposes this unnecessary restriction on school employees' rights of association and opposes the bill.

View past updates at mnea.org/legupdate.