SPONSOR: McGaugh
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 13 to 4 with 4 members voting present. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 8 to 2 with 1 member voting present.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 2115 & 1876.
This bill requires school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in cursive writing.
Beginning in the 2028-29 school year, students by the end of the fifth grade shall take a teacher-constructed test to demonstrate competency in reading and writing cursive.
This bill is similar to HB 1876; HB 2773 (2026) and HB 346; HB 375; HB 906; and HB 1237 (2025).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this is a big picture concept and research shows that cursive writing is important for the development of fine motor skills and promotion of creativity. The individual's handwriting conveys intelligence and grace and writing in cursive keeps the brain active. Being able to read cursive is important so that primary source documents may be read and the stories from our past can be understood.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative McGgaugh; nd Missouri NEA.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: