GET THE LEAD OUT OF SCHOOL DRINKING WATER
(Sections 160.077 and 701.200)
The act modifies provisions of the "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act".
The act provides that a school may filter water to reduce lead levels when the water supply is the source of lead contamination. The act prohibits a school from using flushing practices to reduce lead levels as part of the school's remediation plan.
The act specifies that a filter used to reduce lead levels in a school's drinking water supply shall be installed in accordance with any relevant requirements set forth by the Department of Natural Resources.
The act adds removal of a drinking water outlet from service to the list of steps a school may take if testing shows that the building's plumbing is causing lead contamination.
The act repeals a provision exempting school buildings constructed after January 4, 2014, from the requirement to install, maintain, or replace filters.
Finally, the act repeals provisions relating to testing for lead in school buildings constructed before 1996.
These provisions are identical to HB 995 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 581 (2025).
SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND EMPLOYEE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
(Sections 160.261, 160.263, 160.775, 162.069, 167.950, 168.331, 170.048, and 170.315)
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, all training for school employees required under state law or school policy shall be provided to newly hired employees annually for the first three years of employment, while all other employees shall receive such training on a schedule determined by the school district or charter school. Sufficient time shall be provided for employees to complete the required training during work hours. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, all new training required under state law or rules promulgated by DESE shall be provided to school employees for at least three consecutive school years before a school district or charter school shall establish its own schedule for continuing such training or be required to provide sufficient time for the completion of such training during work hours. (Section 168.331)
Provisions of current law regarding school employee training requirements are modified to reflect the requirements established in the act. (Sections 160.261, 160.263, 160.775, 162.065, 162.069, 167.950, 170.048, and 170.315)
These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 332 (2025) and HB 1523 (2025).
CALCULATION OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE
(Section 160.264)
The act provides that a student who has been suspended or expelled from a public school shall be counted as being in attendance for purposes of calculating the school's attendance rate under the Missouri School Improvement Plan and the school's weighted average daily attendance as used in the calculation of state aid.
COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS
(Section 160.480)
Currently, school districts are authorized to adopt a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan addressing the use of school resources in the event of a natural disaster or other community emergency.
Under this act, school districts and charter schools shall adopt a "comprehensive emergency operations plan" that addresses school safety, crises, and emergency operations; prevention, preparation, operations, and follow-up; collaboration with local law enforcement, fire protection services, and emergency management; and consideration of supporting mental health needs of all involved in any crisis.
The emergency operations plan shall be shared with local law enforcement, fire protection services, and emergency management.
The act adds charter school governing boards to a provision requiring the review of the use of school resources pursuant to emergency operations plans within 30 days of authorization or as soon as reasonably possible.
The governing board of each school district and charter school shall ensure the completion of a physical security site assessment at each facility annually.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop standards for emergency operations plans and ensure compliance with the adoption of these plans annually. DESE shall also develop standards for the annual physical security site assessments using nationally accepted methodology and shall ensure compliance with the completion of these assessments annually.
This provision is identical to provisions in HB 232 (2025) and HB 416 (2025).
CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS
(Section 160.482)
For the 2026-27 school year and all subsequent school years, this act requires every public school to develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on a school campus.
Members of each public school's administration shall coordinate with local emergency services providers to integrate the public school's cardiac emergency response plan into the local emergency services providers' protocols. A cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines, Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory), or another set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standards or core elements.
The act outlines certain guidelines that a cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate, including the establishment of a cardiac emergency response team and the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the school campus. Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the cardiac emergency response plan and in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care.
For schools with an athletic department or organized school athletic program, an AED shall be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue and event. The AED shall be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice.
Appropriate school personnel shall be certified in first
aid, CPR, and AED use, as provided in the act. The school personnel required to be trained shall be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan and shall include, but shall not be limited to, athletic coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
Public schools shall not be required to purchase or install AEDs unless the General Assembly specifically appropriates money to cover all related costs.
This provision is substantially similar to SS/SCS/SBs 166 & 155 (2025) and HB 232 (2025) and is similar to SCS/SBs 1032 & 1081 (2024) and provisions in HB 416 (2025) and HB 1991 (2024).
STOP THE BLEED ACT
(Section 160.485)
The act establishes the "Stop the Bleed Act" requiring DESE to develop a traumatic blood loss protocol for school personnel to follow in the event of a serious injury. The protocol shall be developed before January 1, 2026 for implementation in each school district and charter school before the end of the 2025-26 school year.
The act outlines the requirements of the protocol, including placing a bleeding control kit in areas where there is likely to be high traffic, such as auditoriums and cafeterias. Certain items shall be included in the bleeding control kit, such as bandages, protective gloves, and tourniquets. A bleeding control kit shall be restocked after each use, as provided in the act.
Each school district and charter school shall designate school personnel in each school building who shall receive annual training in the use of a bleeding control kit. The act describes the topics to be covered in such training, such as the proper application of dressings or bandages.
DESE shall, in collaboration with the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Missouri Department of Public Safety, include requirements in the traumatic blood loss protocol for school personnel to receive annual training in the use of bleeding control kits. The training requirements shall be satisfied by successful completion and certification under the "STOP THE BLEED" course as promulgated by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma or the American Red Cross. The training requirements may allow online instruction.
A bleeding control kit may contain any additional items that are approved by emergency medical services personnel, as provided in the act. Quantities of each item required to be in a bleeding control kit may be determined by each school district.
DESE, each school district, and each charter school shall maintain information about the Stop the Bleed Act on each entity's website. Upon request by a school district or a charter school, DESE may, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, direct the school district or charter school to resources that are available to provide bleeding control kits to the school district or charter school.
All costs related to the provision of bleeding control kits, kit restocking, and training of school personnel shall be subject to an appropriation by the General Assembly. A school district or charter school may receive donations of bleeding control kits or funds for the purchase of bleeding control kits that meet the requirements of the act.
This provision shall not be construed to create a cause of action against a school district, charter school, or school personnel. Any school personnel who in good faith use a bleeding control kit as provided in the act shall be immune from all civil liability for any act or omission in the use of a bleeding control kit unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful, wanton, or intentional misconduct.
This provision is identical to HB 266 (2025), HB 1487 (2024), HB 116 (2023), and provisions in HB 416 (2025), HB 844 (2025), HCS/HB 1946 (2024), and HCS/HB 497 (2023), and is substantially similar to HCS/HB 1722 (2022) and a provision in HCS/SS/SB 690 (2022).
GRADE-LEVEL EQUIVALENCE
(Sections 160.518 and 160.522)
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop and use a grade-level equivalence metric to assess students' knowledge and performance for grades 3-8. DESE shall define and categorize performance-level descriptors for advanced, proficient, grade level, basic, and below basic achievement, as described in the act, with each level representing varying degrees of mastery over educational content and readiness for the next grade level. The grade-level equivalence for each student shall be determined at the time of the statewide assessment and provided alongside the student's assessment score to both the student and his or her parent. DESE shall also ensure that data related to grade-level equivalence is made publicly accessible on a building, school, district, and statewide level, while ensuring that no data is disclosed in a way that allows for the personal identification of any student, except by the student and the student's parent. DESE may engage a third-party nonprofit entity to assist in developing the grade-level equivalence metric. The grade-level equivalence data shall be included in the annual performance reports DESE is required to compile under current law.
These provisions are identical to provisions in HB 416 (2025) and HCS/HB 712 (2025).
SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATORS
(Section 160.660)
The act requires school districts to designate a primary and secondary school safety coordinator, rather than one designated safety coordinator. Each school district shall ensure that school safety coordinators complete specific training within one year of being appointed. The training options include certain courses offered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration or the Missouri School Boards' Association's Center for Education Safety.
This provision is identical to provisions in HB 232 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024).
SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES
(Section 160.663)
The act requires school districts and charter schools to install anti-intruder door locks on interior doors and bullet-resistant window film on the glass of exterior doors or entryways, subject to appropriation. All new doors installed after August 28, 2025, shall include these security features, and all existing doors shall be equipped with these features by July 1, 2029. School districts and charter schools may receive donations of anti-intruder locks and bullet-resistant window film or accept donations of funds to purchase such items.
Additionally, school districts and charter schools shall develop policies to control building access prior to, or in conjunction with, installing anti-intruder door locks and bullet-resistant window film. Such policies shall control access to individual classrooms and ensure classroom doors with windows have materials that provide concealment during lockdowns while allowing limited visibility for first responders.
This provision is identical to provisions in HB 416 (2025) and HCS/HB 1946 (2024).
SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT REPORTS
(Section 160.664)
This act requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to report to DESE all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that occur at each attendance center of the LEA, including all actual incidents or credible threats of school shootings or other incidents or threats involving a firearm, explosive, knife, or other weapon, as provided in the act. DESE shall require LEAs to report acts of school violence or violent behavior, as such terms are defined in current law, or crimes required to be reported to law enforcement under current law.
DESE shall establish procedures for LEAs to follow when reporting a school safety incident or credible threat. These procedures shall include, but shall not be limited to, criteria to assist LEAs in determining what constitutes a school safety incident or credible threat that is required to be reported; a time frame within which such incident or threat shall be reported; and any other information required by DESE.
DESE shall maintain and regularly update a database of all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that are reported pursuant to the provisions of the act. No record in the database shall contain personally identifiable information of a student. A record in the database shall contain only aggregate data by charter school, school district, or attendance center thereof and shall be a public record. DESE shall share data relating to school safety incidents and credible school safety threats with the Department of Public Safety to facilitate additional investigation efforts.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (2025) and similar to HB 1074 (2025).
ANTIBULLYING POLICIES
(Section 160.775)
The act adds charter schools to provisions of law requiring public schools to adopt antibullying policies. An antibullying policy shall include a statement that the school district or charter school shall take into account whether a student's act of school violence or violent behavior, as such terms are defined in current law, was committed in self-defense when determining disciplinary action.
Currently, employees who witness an incident of bullying are required to report the incident within two days. This act lowers the report requirement to one day. Reports of bullying incidents received by school principals shall be reduced to writing within two school days of receiving such reports. An investigation shall be completed within 10 school days from the date of the initiation of the investigation, rather than 10 school days of the written report. The act further requires a written report of the results of the investigation to be prepared. This report shall include, but is not limited to, a description of any interventions, initiatives, techniques, or discipline provided to all individuals involved in the incident.
The policy shall also include a procedure for responding to an investigation that finds an act of bullying occurred. At a minimum, the procedure shall require notification of the parents of the bullied student and the bullying student and, if the bullying constitutes harassment in the second degree under current law, referral to law enforcement agencies or, if the bullying student is under 11 years of age, the Children's Division of the Department of Social Services.
Additionally, the policy shall provide information about training on the appropriate interventions staff may take and the associated liability for action or inaction.
Students committing acts of bullying are added to the educational training and prevention initiatives currently provided to certain school personnel and students who are victims of bullying.
The administration of each school district and charter school shall report all incidents of bullying, school violence, violent behavior, and certain crimes to the school board or governing board on a monthly basis, detailing the discipline imposed on students involved in such incidents. The school board or governing board shall review these reports in a closed meeting and resolve any discrepancies within 30 days, addressing any concerns raised during the review.
Employees or volunteers of a school district or charter school are authorized to intervene in bullying, violence, or criminal incidents to protect students. Employees or volunteers shall be immune from liability if they follow proper procedures or act in good faith, reasonably believing they are justified in their actions.
School districts, charter schools, or employees thereof shall not be civilly liable for disciplining a student for bullying if done in good faith. If the district, charter school, or employee prevails in a legal action, they may recover court costs and attorney's fees.
The act does not grant immunity for the denial of constitutionally protected rights of students and does not limit other immunities available under state or federal law. Incidents of bullying, school violence, or crime may be considered child abuse for reporting purposes. If multiple employees or volunteers are aware of such abuse, a single report may be made by the designated reporter, and failure to report by the designated individual shall be immediately addressed. Further, the act prohibits charter schools from expelling or transferring a student solely based on bullying reports.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (2025) and similar to HB 351 (2025), HB 655 (2025), and HCS/HBs 1715 & 2630 (2024).
MISSOURI EDUCATORS AND PARENTAL EMPOWERMENT AND RIGHTS ACT
(Sections 160.1052 to 160.1055)
The act establishes the "Missouri Educators and Parental Empowerment and Rights