Legislative Update - 2024, Week 9

SENATE EXPECTED TO DEBATE EDUCATION TOPICS NEXT WEEK

The Senate seems likely to spend much of next week discussing education topics.  SB 1392 (Curtis Trent) is now second on the Senate formal calendar for debate and seems likely to be the vehicle. The bill contains provisions expanding the existing tax credit voucher enacted in 2021 and authorizing the establishment of charter schools in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Columbia school district without sponsorship by the local school board. The Association opposes the bill. The Senate is likely to consider a floor substitute with additional provisions.

VOUCHER EXPANSION AND CHARTER EXPANSION  

SB 1392 (Curtis Trent) was reported to the floor and placed on the Senate calendar on February 26. The bill could be taken up soon and is expected to be discussed next week. The bill contains provisions expanding the existing tax credit voucher enacted in 2021 and authorizing the establishment of charter schools in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Columbia school district without sponsorship by the local school board. The Association opposes the bill.

The House-Special Committee on Education Reform heard HB 1911 (Doug Richey) on February 26. The bill establishes a new tax credit for the parents or guardians of private school students and home school students for educational expenses incurred up to the base per pupil funding amount for the school funding formula, known as the State Adequacy Target. The tax credit would be available for most categories of educational expenses, but the tax credit would not be available for the expenses incurred on behalf of students attending public schools. The fiscal note for the bill estimates the state cost for the tax credit could reach $1.5 billion per year. The Association opposes the bill.

PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX CUT

The House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform heard two measures to cut personal property taxes on February 28. HB 1669 (Mark Mathiessen) would reduce the assessment ratio for several categories of personal property. HJR 88 (Mark Mathiessen) would propose a Constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to pass a bill like HB 1669 that would also eliminate personal property taxes on all farm equipment and motor vehicles. The Association opposes both HB 1669 and HJR 88. The fiscal notes for the two measures estimate a potential reduction of local property tax revenues and school revenues of up to $1.6 billion when fully implemented. This reduction in local school revenues will adversely affect public school students and schools across the state.

RETIREMENT

The House Pensions Committee heard HB 1722 (Aaron Crossley) on February 27. The bill increases the number of noncertificated PSRS retirees that a district may employ under the critical shortage provision. The bill increases the cap to the greater of five employees or 1% of the total number of certificated teachers and non-certificated staff. The cap is currently the lesser of five employees or 10% of the number of non-certificated employees. The bill adds no cost to the System. The bill would also make the PEERS critical shortage provisions similar to the PSRS critical shortage provisions enacted last year. The Association supports the bill.

The Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Pensions Committee heard SB 1113 (Rusty Black) on February 28. The bill would enact additional provisions regarding the investments of all Missouri public pension systems, including PSRS and PEERS, regarding proxy voting and their fiduciary investment priority.

The PSRS Board of Trustees has a fiduciary duty to invest for the benefit of the members of the system. The bill would prevent pension systems from considering environmental, social or governance factors in a manner that would override their fiduciary duties. The provisions of the bill as filed are consistent with the current practices of PSRS and PEERS and will not interfere with the operation of the Systems.

TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS

The House Special Committee on Innovation and Technology voted to approve HCS/HB 2612 (Tricia Byrnes) on February 27.  The committee version of the bill creates a task force to review research and best practices regarding the impact of technology in education. This review will include the impacts on behavior and discipline, special education, early childhood brain development, reading and writing skills and other related topics. The Association supports this proactive approach to provide research and guidance on technology best practices to schools and educators across the state.

HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee heard two bills on February 28:

HB 2160 (Ben Baker) pertains to honesty in education and parent access to school and student information.  The Association is concerned that the bill would adversely affect the freedom of teachers to provide the honest education our students deserve and the complex new provisions could interfere with existing policies respecting student and school privacy.  The Association opposes the bill.

HB 1568 (Ann Kelley) grants flexibility to schools for certain school employee training requirements. Annual training will be required for the first three years of employments. Schools may the place requirements on a rotating basis based on school and employee needs.  The Association believes this will allow more efficient use of staff training time and better meet student and school needs. The Association supports the bill.

The committee also voted to approve two bills on February 28:

HCS/HB 2184 (Mike Haffner) specifies a detailed methodology for calculating school building performance scores based primarily on student scores on standardized tests. The bill does not provide any structure to provide support to help schools improve. The bill hearkens back to the now-abandoned "test, blame and punish" mindset of the former, federal NCLB Act. The Association opposes the bill.

HCS/HB 2423 (Kurtis Gregory) regarding background checks and pupil transportation. The bill extends existing background check requirements for school districts to also apply to charter schools. The bill also extends background check requirements for school bus drivers to drivers of other vehicles used for transporting pupils. The HCS version of the bill does not change the current definition of "school bus".

SENATE-SELECT COMMITTEE ON EMPOWERING MISSOURI PARENTS AND CHILDREN

The committee heard three bills on February 28:

SB 976 (Travis Fitzwater) relating to technological education in public schools and creating the STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund.

SB 1049 (Travis Fitzwater) to revises virtual school law to allow state assessments to be administered virtually under the requirements in the bill.

SB 1393 (Cindy O'Laughlin) to change the annual deadline for school districts to submit proposals to operate recovery high schools for students in recovery from substance use.

The committee voted to approve three bills on February 28:

SB 784 (Doug Beck) to revise school terms and calendars. The bill requires districts in charter counties and cities over 30,000 population to have at least 169 school days unless voters approve a four-day school week. Districts with a five-day school week will annually receive an additional payment of 2% of the prior year state aid to be used solely to increase teacher salaries. Districts with a school term of at least 175 school days may establish a school starting date prior to 14 days before Labor Day.

SB 907 (Jill Carter) to add health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences to the mission of Missouri Southern State University. The House Higher Education Committee met on February 28 to hear HCR 50 (Cody Smith), a similar measure that would approve this mission change for MSSU.

SB 1393 (Cindy O'Laughlin) to change the annual deadline for school districts to submit proposals to operate recovery high schools for students in recovery from substance use. The bill was approved as a Consent Bill and will not be subject to amendment when taken up on the Senate floor.

Find past issues at www.mnea.org/legupdate.