The bill appropriates funds for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development for the fiscal year 2026-2027, with a total allocation of approximately $2 billion for various educational and workforce development programs in Missouri. It specifies funding for initiatives such as the Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program, the A+ Schools Program, and the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant Program, while also emphasizing flexibility in budget allocations. Notably, the bill mandates that any one-time funding amounts will not be considered part of ongoing appropriations in future fiscal periods and requires that funds received from donations and federal sources be reported to the General Assembly before expenditure. Significantly, the bill introduces new restrictions on funding for public institutions of higher education, stating that no funds shall be expended on students with unlawful immigration status at rates lower than those charged to international students, nor shall scholarship funds be allocated for such students. It also mandates the development of a formula-driven funding model for state appropriations to ensure transparency and equitable distribution. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, narrowly defining these efforts to exclude programs that could influence faculty or student body composition based on race, sex, or ethnicity.

Statutes affected:
173.600, 173.612, 3.015, 3.150, 3.020, 3.005, 53.15, 5.00