Browse Legislation

Modifies provisions relating to the governing bodies of certain public institutions of higher education

Establishes provisions relating to the issuance of professional and occupational licenses to certain individuals with federal employment authorizations

Restricts the use of revenues derived from taxes levied on airports

Authorizes the board of trustees of an urban library district to change the dates of the fiscal year

Proposes a constitutional amendment relating to taxation

Modifies provisions relating to outdoor advertising

SB 1681 - This act provides that an offender shall be eligible to receive a parole hearing after serving 30 years or more of his or her sentence if such offender: • Is incarcerated in a correctional facility after being sentenced by a court; • Is serving a sentence of life without parole for the offense of first or second degree murder prior to October 1, 1984; • Is 60 years of age or older; • Has no felony convictions prior to the conviction for which he or she is currently incarcerated; and • Is not a convicted sex offender. During the parole hearing, the Parole Board ("Board") shall determine if there is a reasonable probability the offender will not violate the law upon release. If the Board determines a reasonable probability exists, the offender shall be eligible for release upon a finding that the offender has a record of good conduct while incarcerated, demonstrated self-rehabilitation, developed a workable parole plane, and has a risk factor and mental health score determined appropriate by the Board. Any offender released under this act shall be subject to a minimum of five years of supervision by the Board. This act is identical to SB 1226 (2026), SB 234 (2025), SB 341 (2025), SB 914 (2024), SB 1147 (2024), SB 147 (2023), and SB 714 (2022) and is similar to SB 1335 (2026), SB 438 (2025), SB 1218 (2024), SB 581 (2023), SB 995 (2022), HB 2134 (2022), HB 277 (2021), and HB 1078 (2019). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

Requires state departments to exhaust all available funds before spending money allocated from general revenue

Establishes the "Youthful Offender Sentencing Reform and Accountability Act"

SB 1746 - Currently, under Article V of the Missouri Constitution, judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri and of the Court of Appeals, judges in certain circuit courts, and certain associate circuit judges are selected by gubernatorial appointment following nominations from the nonpartisan commissions. This act provides for the election of all judges of the Supreme Court, of the Court of Appeals and of the circuit courts, and associate circuit judges, including methods for declaration of candidacy, nominating committees, and election contents. This act is contingent upon the passage of a constitutional amendment that requires the election of all judges. KATIE O'BRIEN

SCS/SB 1060 - The act creates provisions relating to public water supply districts. DETACHMENT FROM A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT (Section 247.181) Under the act, as an alternative to detachment from a public water supply district located in certain counties, the owners of 50% or more of the area located within the district that does not receive water service from the district may petition the circuit court to be detached from the district by filing a petition. Conditions for the detachment are described in the act. Specifics of the petition are described in the act. After receiving the petition, the election authority shall issue a certificate stating whether the records of the authority show any voters residing within the area proposed to be detached. The authority shall file the certificate with the circuit court and shall serve a copy of the certificate upon the petitioners, as described in the act. Following the receipt of the petition, the board of directors of the district shall file with the circuit court a verification stating whether any water lines or other facilities owned or operated by the district are located within the area proposed to be detached or whether the district has any outstanding obligation bonds at the time the petition is filed. The verification shall be filed with the court and served upon the petitioners, as described in the act. The petitioner shall be responsible for payment of the reasonable costs of the district for providing the verification. Pursuant to the timelines described in the act, the court shall set a public hearing date on the proposed detachment. Notice of the filing of the petition shall be posted in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the proceedings are pending. Specifics of the notice are described in the act. At the public hearing, an interested person may file written objections or comments and may be heard with respect to any issues set forth in the notice. The court may hear all protests, objections, comments, and other evidence presented at the hearing. The court shall thereafter determine if the petition satisfied the conditions under the act and whether the petitioners are entitled to detachment, as described in the act. If the court determines that the petition is defective, the court shall dismiss the petition without prejudice. The petition shall not be considered defective based on the fact that the district is a borrower under a federal loan program. The petitioner shall bear all costs of the proceedings under the act. A certified copy of the court's order shall be filed as described in the act. ACCEPTANCE OF MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS (Section 247.229) If a public water supply district that is located in certain counties, and pursuant to the provisions of the act, has an outstanding debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States government, the board of directors of the district shall accept any monetary gift, donation, or bequest made to the district for its use, unless such acceptance would be in violation of current law. Such donations shall be applied first to the payment of any outstanding debt of the district that is owed to or guaranteed by the United States government, until such debt is satisfied in full. Excess funds may be applied as authorized by current law. If no such debt exists, the board of directors may apply the funds as authorized by current law. The board shall maintain records of all monetary gifts, donations, or bequests received and make such records available for public inspection. Any person or entity may make full payment for any debt of the district that is owed to or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agency. The board of directors shall take all necessary actions to facilitate such payments, as described in the act. These provisions shall only apply to specific public water supply districts, as described in the act. The act has an emergency clause. The act is substantially similar to HB 1917 (2026). JULIA SHEVELEVA

Increases the penalties for the offense of animal abuse and establishes an animal abuse registry

Modifies provisions relating to leaves of absence for military service

Establishes the "Missouri Declaration and Bylaws Modernization Act"

SB 1460 - This act modifies provisions relating to towing. TOWING LIABILITY POLICY Current law requires motor vehicle liability policies to meet certain criteria. This act provides that any motor vehicle liability policy for a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle rating of more than 26,000 pounds shall provide coverage for towing, winching, vehicle recovery, and emergency roadside labor in an amount of at least $100,000. (Section 303.190) RECOVERY OF TOWING COSTS Current law provides a mechanism for the owner of abandoned property that has been towed to file a petition in associate circuit court to determine if the abandoned property was wrongfully taken or withheld from its owner. This act applies such provision only to property for which the costs charged by the towing company do not exceed $15,000. For towed abandoned property with a gross vehicle rating of more than 26,000 pounds and with costs charged by the towing company exceeding $15,000, the owner of such property may, within seven days after the receipt of notification from the towing company pursuant to current law, file a petition in a court of competent jurisdiction in the county where the abandoned property is stored if there is a dispute arising over costs charged by the towing company. The petition shall name the towing company among the defendants. Upon filing the petition, the property owner shall pay to the towing company fifty percent of all costs charged by the towing company as of the date of filing, and the remaining fifty percent of all costs shall be deposited with the court. If the court finds in favor of the towing company, the property owner shall pay the remainder of the costs to the towing company along with interest accrued from the date of filing. Within five business days of depositing fifty percent of the costs charged by the towing company with the court, the property owner shall remove the truck, trailer, cargo, and any debris associated with such items from the premises of the towing company. Failure to remove such property shall result in the property owner forfeiting the moneys deposited with the court to the towing company. (Section 304.156) This act is identical to HB 3447 (2026). TAYLOR MIDDLETON

Establishes provisions relating to the reconsideration of materials in a public library or public school library

Creates provisions relating to covenants not to compete involving physicians

SB 1633 - This act modifies various provisions relating to unlawful discriminatory practices. UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES UNDER THE MISSOURI HUMAN RIGHTS ACT (MHRA) (CHAPTER 213) This act prohibits discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) based upon a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status. Such discrimination includes unlawful housing practices, denial of loans or other financial assistance, denial of membership into an organization relating to the selling or renting of dwellings, unlawful employment practices, and denial of the right to use public accommodations. Discrimination is defined to include any unfair treatment based on a person's presumed or assumed race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age as it relates to employment, disability, or familial status as it relates to housing, regardless of whether the presumption or assumption as to such characteristic is correct. These provisions are substantially similar to SB 1218 (2026), HB 3425 (2026), SB 608 (2025), HB 1460 (2025), SB 787 (2024), HB 2478 (2024), SB 60 (2023), HB 384 (2023), HB 574 (2023), SB 711 (2022), HB 1760 (2022), HB 2580 (2022), SB 81 (2021) HB 275 (2021), HB 984 (2021), HB 1527 (2020), SB 954 (2020), HB 1763 (2020), SB 172 (2019), HB 208 (2019), SB 753 (2018), HCS/HBs 1360 & 2100 (2018), HB 1782 (2018), SB 338 (2017), HB 485 (2017), SB 653 (2016), SB 237 (2015), SB 962 (2014), SB 96 (2013) and SB 798 (2012) and similar to HB 1737 (2022), HB 407 (2015), SB 757 (2014), SS/HCS/HB 320 (2013), SB 239 (2011), SB 626 (2010), SB 109 (2009), SB 824 (2008), SB 266 (2007), SB 452 (2001), and SB 622 (2000). THE MOTIVATING FACTOR STANDARD - MHRA The act modifies the standard for proving discriminatory claims pursuant to the MHRA. Currently, a protected criterion must be the motivating factor in any adverse decision or action. This act changes that provision such that a protected criterion must be the basis of an adverse decision or action. APPLICABILITY OF MHRA The act subjects the following entities and individuals to the MHRA: the state of Missouri, any political subdivision of the state, any person employing six or more persons within the state, and any person directly acting in the interest of an employer. Corporations and associations owned and operated by religious or sectarian groups are the only entities exempt from the act. EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVISION Current law provides that the MHRA, the Workers' Compensation chapter, and the general employment law chapter shall be the exclusive remedy for any and all claims for injury or damages arising out of the employment relationship. This act repeals that provision. FILING OF COMPLAINTS WITH COMMISSION AND CIVIL ACTIONS Current law provides that any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice is required to make, sign, and file with the Missouri Human Rights Commission a verified complaint in writing as a precedent to filing a civil action under the MHRA. Furthermore, the failure to timely file a complaint with the Commission shall deprive the Commission of jurisdiction to investigate the complaint. Complainants shall file such complaint with the Commission within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination. Failure to timely file may be raised as a complete defense by a respondent or defendant at any time. This act repeals all such provisions and permits any person alleging an unlawful discriminatory practice pursuant to the MHRA to file a petition in circuit court of the county in which the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice occurred without first filing a complaint with the Commission. JUDICIAL INTERPRETATION OF MHRA The act repeals provisions of law that abrogated past court decisions and jury instructions interpreting the MHRA as well as provisions stating which federal court cases are considered persuasive in interpreting the MHRA. WHISTLEBLOWER'S PROTECTION ACT The act repeals a provision of law referred to as the Whistleblower's Protection Act, which codified the common law exceptions to the employment at-will doctrine, stipulating the circumstances under which a private employee cannot be terminated from employment. SCOTT SVAGERA

Modifies provisions for public protest and false imprisonment

Modifies provisions relating to the transfer of moneys in certain funds at the end of any biennium