By Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director
HOUSE PASSES BUDGET
The House approved the state budget bills, HBs 2-14 (Dirk Deaton), on April 3. HB 2 is the K-12 education budget bill. The House passed the bill with a vote of 95-34 with 25 members voting present. The House version does not fully fund the school aid formula. The House also defeated Rep. Betsy Fogle's amendment to remove the Governor's proposed $50 million GR appropriation for the state's tax credit voucher by a mostly party-line vote of 48-90. The Association continues to urge the legislature to fully fund the formula and remove GR expenditures to the state's tax credit voucher program.
HONESTY IN EDUCATION
The Senate debated SS/SB 223 (Mary Elizabeth Coleman) on March 31, but the bill was not brought to a vote. SB 223 provides a cause of action for the Attorney General, local prosecutors, and parents to file lawsuits against board members, schools, and staff for violations of notice and consent requirements regarding certain student surveys. Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern offered an amendment to remove the cause of action for either parents or the AG and to limit the prosecutor cause of action to school districts. The sponsor withdrew the SS and moved to place the bill on the informal calendar.
Federal law requires prior parental notice and the ability to opt a student out of required student surveys that ask about certain sensitive topics, such as political affiliation, mental and psychological problems, sex behavior and attitudes, and several other related topics. While these federal requirements do not pertain to surveys that are directly related to academic instruction, SB 223 has a more expansive definition of "survey" that could include instructional activities. The Association is concerned that the bill would adversely affect the freedom of teachers to provide the honest education our students deserve and could conflict and interfere with existing policies respecting student privacy.
HOUSE PASSES CELL PHONE/SAFETY BILL
The House approved HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (Jamie Gragg) on April 2. The HCS version of the bill requires school districts to have policies that restrict student use of cell phones during instructional time. The Association supports the HCS version of the bill. The House amended this portion to also restrict student use of cell phones during mealtimes. The House also added: the school safety incident reporting language from SB 68 (Mike Henderson), HCS/HBs 1287 & 744 (Ed Lewis) regarding parent and educator rights and student conduct, HB 351 (John Black) regarding anti-bullying policies, and HB 454 (Ian Mackie) to prohibit school districts from maintaining zero-tolerance discipline policies.
HOUSE COMMITTEE CREATES OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL
The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee approved an HCS version of SS/SCS/SB 68 (Mike Henderson) on April 2. The Senate version requires local educational agencies to report school safety incidents to DESE. The bill also requires school districts to adopt policies restricting student use of cell phones and other personal electronic communication devices during the school day. The HCS version is similar to HB 408 (Jamie Gragg) and requires restriction of cell phone use during instructional time and mealtime. The Association supports this provision restricting student cell phone use.
The committee the following provisions to the HCS:
HCS/HB 32 (Bishop Davidson) to lower the adult high school attendance age 18 years of age.
HB 220 (Ed Lewis) to create standards for virtual schools or programs to administer statewide assessments.
HB 232 (Sherry Gallick) regarding cardiac emergency response plans.
HB 267 (Brenda Shields) to repeal the sunset on provisions governing teacher externships.
HB 332 (Ann Kelley) granting additional flexibility in required staff training in schools.
HB 351 (John Black) regarding school anti-bullying policies.
HB 368 (Brad Banderman) to clarify requirements for the 1% increase in state aid for a school calendar of at least 169 school days.
HCS/HB 416 (Brenda Shields) regarding school safety provisions, except that the committee adjusted conflicting staff training provisions to reflect the language of HB 332.
HB 454 (Ian Mackie) banning district use of "zero tolerance" discipline policies.
HB 607 (Ed Lewis) to remove the minimum salary requirement for a master's to be in the area taught.
HCS/HB 712 (Brad Pollitt) requiring DESE to determine a student's grade-level equivalence on the MAP test.
HB 792 (Ed Lewis) to allow recipients of teacher recruitment and retention state scholarships to use the funds for educational costs other than tuition.
HCS/HB 941 (Ed Lewis) to limit school districts from using a "three-cueing system" model of reading instruction.
HB 995 (Jeff Knight) governing lead in school drinking water.
HB 1039 (Stephanie Boykin) to extend the option for PSRS retirees to work as a substitute teacher while receiving their PSRS pension.
HB 1153 (Cecilie Williams) to require the state Board of Education to issue certificates of license to teach upon certification by Teachers for Tomorrow.
HCS/HB 1238 (Willard Haley) regarding pupils attending non-resident schools where the pupil's parent is a regular employee or contractor.
HCS/HBs 1287 & 744 (Ed Lewis) regarding parent and educator rights and student conduct.
A provision exempting districts from competitive bidding requirements for construction projects over $50,000 when using a cooperative procurement service, state procurement services, a design-build contract, or other purchasing processes authorized by state or federal law.
A provision that pupil suspensions shall not adversely affect a district's score under MSIP nor reduce school formula aid to the district.
CAPITAL GAINS TAX CUT
The Senate adopted the SS version of HCS/HBs 594 & 508 (Chad Perkins) on April 2. Senate Pro Tem O’Laughlin referred the bill to the Senate Fiscal Oversight Committee. The Senate will take up the bill for final passage after it is approved by that committee and reported to the floor. The SS version includes several additional tax provisions, including increases to the income tax credit for property taxes or rent paid by qualifying seniors (the so-called Circuit Breaker tax credit). The Association remains concerned that the overall fiscal impact of this tax cut will reduce the legislature's ability to invest in public education and other essential services.
SCHOOL RETIREMENT
The House approved HB 147 (Barry Hovis) on April 2. The original bill pertains to police pensions. The House added three amendments that pertain to school retirement systems. The House added HB 657 (Bill Owen) to 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 House also added HB 977 (Barry Hovis) to require that public pension systems comply with various federal restricted investments lists. Both added provisions are consistent with current PSRS/PEERS policies and operational practices.
The House also added HB 404 (Doug Clemens) to increase the employer contribution rate for St. Louis Public School Retirement System from the current year rate of 12.5% to 14% for calendar year 2026 and thereafter.
SCHOOL SAFETY
The House perfected HB 232 (Sherry Gallick) on April 2. The bill requires cardiac emergency response plans in public schools. The Association supports the bill. The House added the provisions of HB 416 (Brenda Shields) as an amendment. This portion adds various school safety requirements on school districts and charter schools. HB 416 addresses emergency operation plans, blood loss protocols, MSIP safety standards, physical standards for doors, transfer of behavior risk assessments of enrolling students, notifications from juvenile courts, agreements with law enforcement, CPR resuscitation training, and active shooter training. The House also added the language of HB 454 (Ian Mackie) to prohibit school districts from maintaining zero-tolerance discipline policies.
CHARTER SCHOOL DEED RESTRICTIONS
The House perfected HCS/HBs 1363, 1062, & 1254 (George Hruza) on April 2. The bill would prohibit local ordinances from supporting or allowing deed restrictions to preclude subsequent use of a building as a charter school. The bill also purports to invalidate existing deed restrictions of this type.
HOUSE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The committee heard SS/SB 63 (Ben Brown) on April 2. The bill would allow home school students to participate in activities sanctioned by statewide activity organizations, such as MSHSAA.
In addition to the omnibus version of SB 68, the committee approved two House bills on April 2:
HCS/HB 1262 (John Black) to require public schools to post a statement relating to religious freedoms for students and school employees. The Association believes that schools should teach the rights and responsibilities associated with the freedom of religion and supports the bill.
HCS/HB 1516 (Josh Hurlbert) to allow adults over 21 years of age without a high school diploma or equivalence certificate to enroll in a state approved virtual course or full-time virtual program offered by the student's resident district or charter school or to enroll in a MOCAP full-time virtual school and be counted state funding purposes through a funding item separate from the basic formula but based on the formula SAT amount.
HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The committee heard the following measures on April 2:
SCR 3 (Jill Carter) to add health and life sciences and immersive learning experiences to the mission of Missouri Southern State University.
SS/SB 150 (Jill Carter) to create a Career Tech certificate program to allow A+ eligible students to use A+ funds for certificate programs such as EMT, CDL, and LPN certificates that are not currently A+ eligible. The Association supports the bill.
HB 265 (Brenda Shields) to increase awards for eligible recipients of the Access Missouri scholarship program. The Association supports the bill.
HB 442 (Marla Smith) to create a task force to develop standardized and consistent forms for public colleges and universities to use for admission letters and student aid award letters. The Association supports the bill.
HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The House Emerging Issues Committee heard SS/SB 160 (Brad Hudson) on March 31. The bill would prevent a public college from denying official recognition to belief-based student associations that require leaders to adhere to their beliefs, practice requirements or standards of conduct.