ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS (Sections 160.2700, 160.2705, and 160.2710)
The act lowers the minimum age of a student who may enroll in an adult high school from 21 years of age to 18 years of age.
To be eligible to operate an adult high school, an organization shall demonstrate success in providing job placement services to adults 18 years of age or older, instead of 21 years of age or older, in addition to satisfying certain other conditions set forth in current law.
Additionally, a student transferring from a local education agency to an adult high school shall be considered a transfer student and not a dropout student from the local education agency.
These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 32 (2025) and provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and HCS/SS/SB 266 (2025), and are similar to SB 426 (2025).
STEM CAREER AWARENESS (Section 161.264)
This act creates the "STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund" for the purpose of establishing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activity program for students in grades nine through twelve. Under the act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall select a provider to deliver a teacher-led program that involves facilitating a cohort of students to conduct STEM activities at state, national, or international competitions. DESE shall select a provider that presents data demonstrating the effectiveness of the program in achieving certain goals specified in the act. DESE shall begin soliciting applications from providers by January 1, 2026, and select a provider by March 1, 2026.
This provision is identical to HB 1111 (2025) and provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 (2025) and HCS/HB 33 (2025), and is substantially similar to SB 265 (2025), HB 1972 (2024), SB 535 (2023), HB 887 (2023), and provisions in SCS/SB 976 (2024), HCS/SB 1039 (2024), HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 411 & 230 (2023), and HCS/HB 502 (2023).
AUTHORITY TO CONFER DEGREES (Sections 172.280 and 174.160)
This act authorizes Missouri State University to grant Doctor of Philosophy degrees in disciplines other than engineering and to grant Bachelor of Science degrees in veterinary technology.
These provisions are identical to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025) and HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025).
PROPRIETARY SCHOOLS (Sections 173.612 and 173.616)
Currently, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education may require proprietary schools to file a security bond that covers the school and its agents, indemnifying students who suffer loss or damage due to a violation of state law by the school. This act specifies that any such bond shall be filed with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. If a student suffers loss or damage because of a violation of state law by the school, or is unable to complete a course or program due to the school closing, or does not receive a refund to which such student is entitled, the school shall forfeit the entirety of the security bond, and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) shall utilize the proceeds to indemnify students and enrollees and to secure and administer student and enrollee records.
The act also adds training programs offered as part of a registered apprenticeship approved by the United States Department of Labor or pre-apprenticeship programs approved by DHEWD to the list of courses exempt from state laws governing proprietary schools.
These provisions are similar to SB 690 (2025).
STEM GRANT (Section 173.685)
This act requires the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) to make available a grant to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) subjects for $1,500 per year, up to a maximum of $6,000, to eligible recipients. The act outlines eligibility criteria for a grant, including financial considerations that are also included in the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. The act specifies certain requirements for renewing a grant, such as the achievement of satisfactory academic progress, as the term "satisfactory academic progress" is defined in the act, and having completed five or fewer semesters at a two-year institution or a total of 10 semesters at an approved four-year institution.
This provision shall sunset August 28, 2031.
This provision is identical to HB 168 (2025) and similar to HB 2313 (2024) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).
CAREER-TECH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Section 173.836)
This act establishes the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program" and the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program Fund" to reimburse the costs of eligible students' tuition, books, and fees to certain approved institutions, such as two-year community colleges and technical schools, that offer eligible programs of study or training programs.
The act defines an "eligible student" as any student who meets the eligibility requirements for the A+ Schools Program or who has earned a Career and Technical Education Certificate in accordance with criteria outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To qualify, the student shall not have received reimbursement for tuition, books, or fees under the A+ Schools Program. An "eligible program of study" is a program of instruction that results in the award of a certificate or credential below the graduate level in an area of occupational shortage, as determined annually by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The length of an eligible program of study shall not exceed the equivalent of 60 credit hours. A "training program" is defined as a program of study that leads to a certificate or degree that does not meet the length-of-program requirements for an eligible program under federal regulations regarding federal grants and loans for postsecondary students. Training programs include, but are not limited to, certified nurse assistant programs, certified medication technician programs, commercial driver's license programs, and other programs outlined in the act.
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year and for all subsequent years, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish a procedure to reimburse the costs of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC Program Fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program of study or a training program. Tuition reimbursements shall not exceed the tuition rate charged by a public community college for coursework offered by a two-year private vocational or technical school, virtual institution, or eligible training provider. A private vocational or technical school, institution, or training provider shall request authorization from DHEWD for tuition reimbursement before a student enrolls if there is a public community college or vocational or technical school in the same service region offering the same or a substantially similar eligible program of study or training program, as provided in the act.
Eligibility for reimbursements under the act shall expire upon the earliest of (a) the approved institution's receipt of the reimbursement for the required length of the eligible program of study or training program, (b) a student's successful completion of an eligible program of study or training program, or (c) a student's completion of 150% of the time usually required to complete an eligible program of study or training program.
The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish by rule procedures for the reimbursement of tuition, books, and fees to all approved institutions, provided that no rule established shall prohibit a student from qualifying for tuition reimbursement solely because such student's program of study or training program does not meet the length-of-program requirements for federal financial aid or does not participate in federal student aid programs.
This provision is similar to HCS/HB 331 (2025), SB 1065 (2024), HB 76 (2023), and provisions in HCS/HB 606 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).
ACCESS MISSOURI FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (Sections 173.1102, 173.1103, and 173.1105)
This act modifies provisions relating to the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program.
The act replaces the term "expected family contribution" with "student aid index", which defines the amount a student's family should contribute toward the cost of postsecondary education, as calculated by the United States Department of Education.
Starting with the 2025-26 academic year, the act increases the financial assistance award for eligible recipients of the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program. For students attending public two-year institutions, the maximum award increases by $400 (from $1300 to $1700), and the minimum award increases by $200 (from $300 to $500). For students attending public four-year institutions, the maximum award increases by $700 (from $2800 to $3500), and the minimum increases by $250 (from $1500 to $1750).
Additionally, the act authorizes the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to increase the number of recipients by extending the application deadline if appropriated funds exceed the amount necessary.
These provisions are identical to HB 265 (2025), substantially similar to SB 579 (2025), and similar to HB 2326 (2024) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).
MISSION OF MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (Section 174.231)
This act adds health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences to the mission of Missouri Southern State University.
This provision is substantially similar to SB 279 (2025) and SB 907 (2024).
HIGHER EDUCATION CORE CURRICULA (Section 178.786)
This act modifies provisions of the Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer Act.
The act provides that the Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall, with the assistance of an advisory committee composed of representatives from each public community college and each public four-year institution of higher education, approve a separate 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block and a common course numbering equivalency matrix for degree programs in each of the following degree program areas: general business, elementary education and teaching, general psychology, registered nursing, and general biology or biological science, or both. Any community college or university offering degree programs in one or more of these areas shall adopt the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block and a common course numbering equivalency matrix for such programs. Each public institution of higher education shall, in collaboration with the coordinating board and advisory committee, develop an articulation pathway for each of the identified programmatic areas.
Community colleges shall modify existing degree programs or, pending institutional and Coordinating Board approval, may develop new programs that align with the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block. Universities shall modify existing degree programs or, pending institutional and Coordinating Board approval, may develop new degree programs, with the first 60 hours aligning with an associate degree developed in one of the five degree program areas included in the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block, and with the remaining credit hours determined by the institution's faculty through standard procedures.
A program modified or developed under the act shall be granted, by the Coordinating Board, a special designation indicating that such program has been developed to provide a single articulation pathway to a four-year degree at any Missouri public university offering such degree program. The goal of this designation shall be to provide transparency to students seeking a single articulation pathway to a given baccalaureate degree program.
No institution of higher education shall be required to adopt the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block for degree programs not offered at the institution.
Program development at each institution shall be completed in time for courses in the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block to be included in the 2028-29 catalog at each institution providing degree programs in the applicable subject areas.
The Coordinating Board shall maintain a website providing students with clear information on the articulation pathways developed under the act.
If a student successfully completes the transferable lower-division courses at a community college or other public institution of higher education, those courses may be transferred to any other public institution of higher education in this state and shall be substituted for the receiving institution's lower-division block for the same degree program. A student shall receive academic credit toward his or her degree for each of the courses transferred and shall not be required to take additional equivalent courses at the receiving institution for the same degree program. However, these provisions shall not apply to institutions not offering an applicable degree program or to any other degree programs not specified in the act.
Due to program size limitations established for each institution by the State Board of Nursing, admissions to undergraduate nursing programs shall be considered on a space available basis and contingent upon students meeting program admissions requirements, and additional courses may be required to complete the bachelor's degree.
If a student transfers from one public institution of higher education to another public institution of higher education without completing all of the transferable lower-division courses of the sending institution, such student shall receive academic credit toward the same degree program from the receiving institution for each of the courses that the student has successfully completed in the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block of the sending institution. Following receipt of credit for these courses, the student may, if the student has not completed all of the transferable lower-division courses, be required to satisfy further course requirements in the 60 credit-hour, transferable, lower-division course equivalency block of the receiving institution. However, these provisions shall not apply to institutions not offering an applicable degree program or to any other degree programs not specified in the act.
The Coordinating Board shall report to the House Committee on Higher Education and the Senate Committee on Education regarding progress made toward fulfilling the requirements of the act before December 31, 2026.
The Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall develop criteria to annually evaluate the effectiveness of the lower-division course equivalency block and procedures to be followed by public institutions of higher education in resolving disputes, as well as an appeals process for students in the event that an institution fails to award academic credit as provided in the act. The Commissioner of Higher Education or his or her designee shall make the final determination regarding any dispute or appeal and shall give written notice of the final decision to the involved institutions and student, as applicable.
These provisions are similar to SS/SB 69 (2025), HB 183 (2025), and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 160 (2025), SCS/SB 1075 (2024), SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024), and HCS/HB 2310 (2024).
"MISSOURI STATE LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM" (Sections 191.600 to 191.615)
This act modifies the "Health Professional Student Loan Repayment Program" to be the "Missouri State Loan Repayment Program" or "MOSLRP". MOSLRP shall be for persons who practice in areas of defined need after graduating from an accredited graduate training program in disciplines defined in rule by the Department of Health and Senior Services. MOSLRP shall not include areas of need for chiropractic services, unlike the current "Health Professional Student Loan Repayment Program". At least 35% of appropriated funds each year shall be designated for awards to primary care physicians and general dentists.
The standards the Department may establish shall not include enrollment as a full-time student in certain courses of study as in the current program, but shall include authorization to practice certain types of health professions and in areas of defined need.
These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 720 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025) and similar to SB 635 (2025).
CHILD CARE FACILITY LICENSURE (Section 210.221)
This act creates a process for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to issue a temporary child care facility license to a child care provider to expand an existing site or to add a new location. The provider shall not be on probation, have a license revoked in the previous twelve months, or have a current letter of censure and shall complete any required background checks, safety and sanitation inspections, and staff training for the site being expanded or added. Temporary licenses issued under this provision shall be valid for no longer than twelve months or until the Department makes a final determination on full licensure.
Prior to obtaining the temporary license, the provider shall have operated a child care facility for at least thirteen months.
The new facility shall be subject to an inspection without notice within sixty days of opening. If the child care facility is an existing facility, but there is a change of ownership, such facility shall be subject to inspection without notice within 60 days of the change in ownership.
Additionally, a child care license shall specify the effective dates of the license and whether it is temporary.
This provision is identical to HCS/HBs 850, 53, & 482 (2025) and a provision in SCS/HB 834 (2025) and is similar to SB 568 (2025) and SB 571 (2025).
LICENSE WAIVERS FOR SPOUSES OF MISSOURI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
(Section 324.009)
Current law requires an oversight body for professional licenses to waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements within 30 days for a resident military spouse or a nonresident military spouse and to issue such applicant a license if the applicant meets all other requirements. This act provides such waiver to resident and nonresident spouses of Missouri law enforcement officers, as such term is defined in the act. Additionally, this act repeals provisions relating to application to oversight bodies that have entered into licensing compacts.
This provision is identical to provisions in SS/SB 61 (2025), HCS/HB 268 (2025), HB 478 (2025), and HCS/HB 946 (2025), and is similar to SB 283 (2025).
LICENSING OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS (Sections 333.041 and 333.042)
This act modifies the process for obtaining a license to practice embalming and to practice funeral directing.
This act provides that a practicum embalming student registrant may assis