Missouri Bills

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the several departments and offices of state government

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the several departments and offices of state government

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the several departments and offices of state government

Appropriates money for capital improvements

Appropriates money for real property leases and related services

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of statewide elected officials, the Judiciary, the Office of the State Public Defender, and the General Assembly

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Social Services

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Corrections

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Public Safety and the Department of National Guard

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Commerce and Insurance, and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Conservation

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Office of Administration, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Conservation, the Department of Public Safety, and the Chief Executive's Office

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Revenue and Department of Transportation

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development

Appropriates money for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the State Board of Education and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Modifies and establishes provisions relating to public safety

Modifies provisions relating to the Missouri community service commission

Establishes the "Missouri Innovation, Public Safety, and Accountability Act"

Modifies the historic preservation tax credit and includes an emergency clause

Modifies provisions relating to licensure reciprocity

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

Requires all proceeds from boating registrations to be deposited in the water patrol division fund and used exclusively for the water patrol division

Modifies provisions relating to certain cash transactions requiring rounding to the nearest five cent denomination

Modifies provisions governing annexation of territory outside the boundaries of a city

Establishes the "Uniform Mortgage Modification Act"

Modifies provisions relating to health benefit plans

Modifies various provisions relating to military affairs

Revises the par value of membership shares and allows for participation in board meetings by telephone or electronic means

Creates several new state designations

Allows for a search of the series LLC in the SoS Business Entity website and to obtain a certificate of good standing

Modifies provisions governing design-build contracts

Modifies requirements for a dissolution of a public water supply district

Modifies provisions relating to health care

Modifies provisions relating to employment of unauthorized aliens

Modifies provisions relating to abuse and neglect reporting, including a requirement to report companion animal abuse

Authorizes the conveyance of certain state property in Cole County

Modifies provisions relating to the establishment of certain entertainment districts

Changes the law regarding advertisements and orders of publication in newspapers

Modifies provisions relating to elections

Authorizes Joplin to increase a transient guest tax for tourism to no more than six percent upon a vote of the people

Establishes an alert system to assist in the location of missing persons with developmental disabilities

Establishes provisions relating to civil liability for publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the internet

Adds licensed occupational therapists to the definition of "other authorized health care practitioner" for purposes of physician's statements required for disabled license plates and placards

Removes the prosecuting attorney and the sheriff from the county salary commission

Modifies provisions relating to driving while intoxicated

Modifies provisions relating to the right of sepulcher

No summary available

SR 984 - This resolution modifies Senate Rule 96 to provide that, no later than January 1, 2027, the Senate shall provide an audio and video feed of its proceedings on the website of the Senate. JIM ERTLE

SR 567 - This resolution modifies Senate Rule 52 to require Senate bills with House amendments and conference committee substitutes to lie on the table for one day before being acted upon by the Senate. JIM ERTLE

SR 566 - This resolution modifies Senate Rules 84 and 85 to provide that at least two-thirds of the Senators, rather than a majority, must sustain a motion for the previous question. JIM ERTLE

SR 565 - This resolution modifies Senate Rules 28 and 47 regarding the fiscal review required for senate and house bills before action can occur on such bills in various stages of the legislative process. JIM ERTLE

SJR 97 - This proposed constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, modifies term limits for members of the General Assembly. Beginning December 3, 2026, no one shall be elected to serve more than sixteen years total in both houses of the General Assembly. Service in the General Assembly resulting from an election prior to December 3, 2026, shall be counted. This proposed constitutional amendment is similar to HJR 2 (2025). JIM ERTLE

SS/SCS/SJR 111 - Current constitutional provisions require taxing jurisdictions to reduce property tax levies when the total assessed value of property in the taxing jurisdiction increases by more than the percent increase in inflation, with an exception made for levies imposed for the payment of principal and interest on bonds or other indebtedness. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, removes the exemption for debt service levies. The amendment also provides that, beginning January 1 following the effective date of the amendment, taxing jurisdictions shall calculate levies for each subclass of real property, and shall reduce the levy for any such class if the assessed valuation for such class increases over the previous year, as provided in the amendment. Additionally, this amendment requires the value of new construction and improvements to be included in the calculation of total assessed valuation for the purpose of calculating property tax levies. (Section 22) This amendment is substantially similar to HJR 148 (2026). JOSH NORBERG

SCS/SB 998 - This act creates, repeals, and modifies provisions of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. The act changes the definition of "illegal alien" to "legal resident" as set forth under federal law. The act modifies the definition of "qualified student" by removing the requirement for a qualified student to have attended a public school during the previous 12 months, as well as removing requirements relating to students' kindergarten eligibility and siblings who participate in the program. Such definition is further modified by adding dyslexia and disability diagnoses to requirements concerning individualized education plans. This provision is similar to a provision in SS/HCS/HBs 2097 & 1905 (2026). (Section 166.700) The act provides that an organization representing a group of parents of qualified students may intervene on behalf of such parents as a defendant in any action in which any provision of state law, the Missouri Constitution, or a state regulation involving the program is at issue. An organization that intervenes as provided in the act shall have the right to file such pleading necessary on behalf of such parents. (Section 166.719) Finally, except as specifically provided in state law, the act prohibits the creation or enforcement of any rule, regulation, or other requirement that conditions a qualified school's participation in the program on accreditation or compliance with any other requirement. Any rule, regulation, or other requirement that violates this provision is void and shall have no force or effect. (Section 166.720) OLIVIA SHANNON

SS/SB 996 - This act modifies provisions relating to workers' compensation. CHANGES OF ATTORNEYS IN WORKERS' COMPENSATION CASES (Sections 287.200 and 287.470) The act permits the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission to change the name, information, or fee arrangement of the attorney or law firm representing a claimant upon the filing of a written agreement, signed by both the claimant and his or her attorney and the new attorney, with the Commission. QUALIFICATIONS, COMPLAINTS, DISCIPLINE, AND REMOVAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES (Sections 287.610 and 621.045) The act provides that all administrative law judges (ALJs) shall retire from being an ALJ at 70 years old. Furthermore, ALJs are exempted from the employee at-will doctrine. Current law requires that a retention vote be taken by the Administrative Law Judge Review Committee with respect to each workers' compensation ALJ every twelve years. This act provides that such retention vote shall occur, beginning August 28, 2026, every four years and any ALJ who receives a vote not in favor of retention by a majority of the Committee shall be immediately terminated as an ALJ. This acts also repeals provisions of current law relating to performance audits of ALJs and recommendations of confidence and no confidence. The act permits the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to file a complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC) seeking to remove an ALJ from office for one or any combination of the following causes: • The ALJ has committed any felony or misdemeanor, regardless of whether a criminal charge has been filed; • The ALJ has been convicted, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a criminal prosecution under the laws of any state, the United States, or of any country, regardless of whether sentence is imposed; • The ALJ is guilty of misconduct, habitual intoxication, willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, or incompetency; or • The ALJ has committed any act that involves moral turpitude or oppression in office. Prior to filing a complaint, the Director shall notify the ALJ in writing of the reasons for the complaint. Special provisions are included if the reason for the complaint is willful neglect of duty or incompetency. Upon a finding by the AHC that the grounds for disciplinary action are met, the Director may, singly or in combination, issue the disciplinary actions against the ALJ, as provided in the act, including removal or suspension from office. Upon a finding that there are no grounds for disciplinary action, the ALJ shall immediately resume duties and shall receive any attorney's fees due under current law. An ALJ may be suspended without pay, without notice, at the discretion of the Director if: • The ALJ commits a crime for which the ALJ is being held without bond for a period of more than 14 days; • The ALJ's license to practice law has been suspended or revoked; or • A declaration of incapacity by a court of competent jurisdiction has been made with respect to the ALJ. PAYMENT AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGES (Sections 287.615, 287.812, and 287.835) The act provides that the compensation for ALJs and chief administrative law judges shall be determined solely by the rate outlined in law and shall not increase when pay raises for executive employees are appropriated. The salary premium for chief ALJs is increased from $5,000 to $10,000. The act furthermore repeals reference to the position of Chief Legal Counsel. The act repeals a prohibition on the payment of any retirement benefits under workers' compensation law to any administrative law judge who has been removed from office by impeachment or for misconduct, or to any person who has been disbarred from the practice of law, or to the beneficiary of any such persons. These provisions are substantially similar to SB 667 (2025), HCS/HB 83 (2025), HCS/HB 123 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 176 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 615 (2025), SCS/SB 1390 (2024) and certain provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 2064 & HCS#2/HB 1886 (2024) and similar to HB 2194 (2024). REMOTE HEARINGS (Section 287.640) This act allows the Division of Workers' Compensation or any administrative law judge acting through the Division to hold any hearing by electronic means, allowing the parties, attorneys, and judges to be remote. SURCHARGE RATES (Section 287.690) Current law allows the Director of the Division of Workers' Compensation to impose taxes or surcharges for different purposes relating to the administration of workers' compensation, with such tax rate being rounded up to the nearest one-half of a percentage point. This act requires the tax or surcharge rates to instead be rounded up to the nearest one-tenth of a percentage point. This provision is identical to SB 932 (2026). SCOTT SVAGERA

CCS/HCS/SB 994 - This act modifies provisions relating to taxation. TAX CREDITS This act repeals several expired tax credits, including: 1) Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit (Section 99.1205); 2) Charcoal Producers Tax Credit (Section 135.313); 3) Missouri Certified Capital Company Law (Section 135.500 to 135.529); 4) Tax credit for relocating business to distressed communities (Section 135.535); 5) Tax credit for investing in the transportation development of distressed communities (Section 135.545 and 135.546); 6) Qualified Beef Tax Credit (Section 135.679); 7) Qualified Equity Investment Tax Credit (Section 135.680 and 135.682); 8) Grape and Wine Producers Tax Credit (Section 135.700); 9) Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property and Electric Vehicle Recharging Property Tax Credit (Section 135.710); 10) Small Business Guaranty Fees Tax Credit (Section 135.766); 11) Enhanced Enterprise Zones Program (Section 135.950 to 135.973); 12) Unmet Health, Hunger, and Hygiene Needs of Children in School Tax Credit (Section 135.1125); 13) Higher Education Scholarship Donation Program (Section 173.196); 14) Tax Credit for purchasing dry fire hydrants or providing water storage for dry fire hydrants (Section 320.093); 15) Contributions to Innovation Centers Tax Credit (Section 348.300 to 348.318); 16) Missouri New Enterprise Creation Act (Section 620.635 to 620.653); 17) Missouri Quality Jobs Act (Section 620.1875 to 620.1890); and the 18) Innovation Campus Tax Credit (Section 620.2600). The act also makes several corresponding technical corrections to other tax credits in current law. These provisions are identical to HB 3329 (2026) and to provisions in SB 1188 (2026), and are substantially similar to HCS/HB 3092 (2026) and to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 889 (2026). DONATED FOOD TAX CREDIT Current law authorizes a tax credit for donations of cash or food made to certain organizations, with such credit scheduled to sunset on December 31, 2026. This act extends the sunset date to December 31, 2032. (Section 135.647) This provision is similar to SB 1082 (2026), HCS/HBs 2461, 2457 & 1782 (2026), and to a provision in SCS/SB 1547 (2026). MILITARY INCOME TAX DEDUCTION Current law authorizes an income tax deduction for income received for military service while the taxpayer serves in a combat zone. For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, this act modifies such deduction to apply to all military income, as defined in the act, regardless of duty status or filing status. (Section 143.121) This provision has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. These provisions are identical to HB 3294 (2026). BEGINNING FARMER INCOME TAX DEDUCTION Current law authorizes an income tax deduction for certain income received for the sale or lease of farmland to beginning farmers. This act adds a definition of "taxpayer" to such deduction. (Section 143.121) This provision is substantially similar to SCS/SB 1291 (2026), HB 3324 (2026), SB 682 (2025), and HB 1042 (2025), and to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 67 (2025), HCS/HB 828 (2025), and HCS/SS/SCS/SB 466 (2025). This provision has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. TAX RETURNS Current law provides that the date for filing income tax returns shall be the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the close of the taxpayer's taxable year. This act provides that such date shall be the date prescribed for the filing of federal tax returns. (Section 143.511) This provision is substantially similar to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 67 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 466 (2025), and HCS/HB 828 (2025). Current law requires withholding tax returns to be submitted electronically by employers with at least two hundred fifty employees. Beginning January 1, 2027, this act requires such electronic returns for employers with at least ten employees. (Section 143.591) This provision is identical to HB 1919 (2026) and is substantially similar to SB 1429 (2026). Current law requires a taxpayer to indicate on the taxpayer's return the school district in which the taxpayer is a resident. This act repeals such provision and instead requires the Department of Revenue to submit an annual report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education including the average Missouri adjusted gross income per return for the state, as well as the average Missouri adjusted gross income per return for each school district in the state. (Section 143.998) TAX DEFICIENCIES This act provides that if a taxpayer has a state income tax balance due resulting from the full or partial denial of a tax credit, the taxpayer shall not be held liable for any addition to tax, penalty, or interest on such amount of income tax due if the reason for the denial of a tax credit was the cumulative maximum amount of allowable tax credits being exceeded for the tax year, if the balance due is paid or payment arrangements have been made within sixty days of receiving notice of the balance due, and the addition to tax or penalty is not due to fraud or fraudulent intent. (Section 143.512) This provision is substantially similar to SB 1203 (2026) and HB 1771 (2026), and to a provision in HB 2754 (2026), HCS/SS/SB 67 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 466 (2025), and HCS/HB 828 (2025). This act provides that a taxpayer that has paid a deficiency and any interest, additions to tax, or penalties attributable to such deficiency that is subsequently found to be erroneous, regardless of whether such taxpayer has timely filed a protest with the Director of Revenue, shall be entitled to a refund in the amount of the deficiency and any interest, additions to tax, or penalties attributable to such deficiency that were paid by the taxpayer. Such refund shall be paid as provided in current law. (Section 143.621) This provision is identical to SB 1377 (2026). SEVERABILITY This act contains a severability clause. JOSH NORBERG

SS/SCS/SBs 984 & 968 - This act modifies provisions relating to pharmacy benefit managers. This act adds definitions for the terms "audit" and "entity" for the purposes of audits of licensed pharmacies. Current law requires a one week notice for any on-site audit. This act increases such notice to fourteen days and requires the notice to specify specific prescriptions to be audited. A pharmacy shall have the right to submit amended claims within thirty days of the discovery of an error. Audits shall be limited to forty unique prescriptions, with a maximum of two hundred separately adjudicated claims, that are randomly selected, and the act provides that recoupment shall only occur following the correction of a claim, as described in the act. No audit shall occur during the first five business days, rather than the first three, of any month. An entity shall not perform more than two audits of a pharmacy in a calendar year, unless fraud is suspected. (Section 338.600) This act modifies the definitions of "health carrier" and "pharmacy benefits manager" and adds definitions for "contracted pharmacy", "pharmacy benefits manager affiliate", for the purposes of regulating costs charged to covered persons for prescription drugs. Additionally, PBMs are prohibited from including a provision in a contract that requires payment for a prescription drug that exceeds the lesser of either the copayment amount or the amount the person would pay if they paid in cash. This act provides that the price shall also not exceed the contracted rate the pharmacy would be reimbursed for the drug. (Section 376.387) This act modifies several definitions and adds new definitions for the purpose of regulating contracts between pharmacy benefits managers and pharmacies. The act also adds several provisions relating to contracts between PBMs and pharmacies, including providing plan sponsors with pharmacy claims data, submitting documentation of any benefit design that encourages or requires the use of affiliated pharmacies, and authorizing the Department of Commerce and Insurance to conduct audits of PBMs. (Section 376.387) This act requires the Department of Commerce and Insurance to establish a critical access care pharmacy program to ensure the sustainability of critical access care pharmacies in the state. (Section 376.394) Finally, this act requires health benefit plans to comply with the federal H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, by September 1, 2028. The Department of Commerce and Insurance have the authority to enforce this act. (Section 376.399) TAYLOR MIDDLETON

SCS/SBs 971 & 906 - This act establishes the "Public School Open Enrollment Act" to enable students to transfer from their charter school or resident school district ("resident local education agency" or "LEA") to a nonresident LEA. (Section 167.1200) No student shall be enrolled under the Public School Open Enrollment Act before July 1, 2028. (Section 167.1230) TRANSFER POLICY AND PARTICIPATION (Section 167.1205) Any student in kindergarten to grade 12 may attend school in a nonresident LEA participating in the open enrollment program. Before November 1st of each year, each charter school or school district, defined as a "local education agency" or "LEA", shall adopt a resolution stating whether the LEA intends to participate in the program by receiving transferring students during the subsequent school year. LEAs may restrict the number of students who may transfer to a nonresident LEA to 3% of the previous school year's enrollment. After the 2028-29 school year, an LEA's maximum number of students who may transfer to a nonresident LEA shall increase by 1% for every two consecutive school years that the LEA is at the transfer maximum, up to a potential maximum of 5% of the previous school year's enrollment. For purposes of calculating the transfer maximum, a transferring student shall be counted as enrolled in the resident LEA if, in the school year before the year of transfer, the student was enrolled in a school other than a public school, attended an FPE school, as such term is defined in current law, or moved to Missouri from another state and has not yet enrolled in school. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop and maintain an online resource that allows a nonresident LEA to ensure that such LEA does not accept a transfer application if doing so would cause the transferring student's resident LEA to exceed the transfer maximum established in the act. The online resource shall additionally provide a searchable public database of the number of transfers offered in each participating LEA, listing allowable transfers for each building, grade level, classroom, and program in an LEA. LEAs shall not be required to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer applicants. DESE or an entity skilled in policy development shall develop a model open enrollment transfer policy as outlined in the act, including specific standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications. All LEAs that participate in open enrollment shall adopt a policy that defines the term "insufficient classroom space," taking into account future population growth and establishing standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications. The standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications may include the capacity of the school, the availability of classroom space, and any class-size limitation. An LEA may use projections to determine class-size limitations. The standards shall include a statement that priority shall be given to any applicant who has a sibling who is already enrolled in the nonresident LEA. The standards shall not include a consideration of an applicant's academic achievement, athletic ability, disabilities, English proficiency level, or previous disciplinary proceedings, except that any suspension or expulsion from another LEA shall be included. LEAs receiving transferring students shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, national origin, race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, disability, or whether the student is homeless or a migrant. A nonresident LEA shall accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another LEA and award a diploma to a transferring student if the student meets the nonresident LEA's graduation requirements. The governing body of each LEA shall cause certain information about the open enrollment program, such as application deadlines and procedures, to be posted on the LEA's website and in the student handbook. Students who wish to attend a nonresident LEA that has an academic or competitive entrance process shall furnish proof that they meet the admission requirements of the nonresident LEA. A nonresident LEA may deny a transfer to a student who, in the most recent school year, has been suspended from school two or more times or who has been suspended or expelled for an act of school violence, as described in the act. A student whose transfer is initially precluded under this provision may, upon the approval of the nonresident LEA, be permitted to transfer as a probationary student, subject to no further disruptive behavior. A student who is denied a transfer due to disciplinary issues has the right to an in-person meeting with the nonresident LEA's superintendent, as provided in the act. LEAs shall develop common standards for determining disruptive behavior that shall include criteria established in current law. High school students who participate in open enrollment shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics during the first 365 days of enrollment in a nonresident LEA, with exceptions outlined in the act. APPLYING FOR TRANSFER (Section 167.1210) A student who applies for a transfer under the act may accept only one transfer per school year. A student who accepts such a transfer shall commit to attend and take all courses through the nonresident LEA for at least two school years. The student may meet with the superintendent of the nonresident LEA to be released from such commitment if extenuating circumstances arise or if the student's resident LEA changes. A transferring student shall not enroll as a full-time student in the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program. A student who transfers to a nonresident LEA and then returns to the resident LEA shall complete a full semester in the resident LEA before applying for another transfer. A transferring student with a school attendance rate below 80% for any quarter shall be notified of such rate, and if such student's attendance rate in the subsequent quarter does not reach at least 90%, the student's transfer and eligibility to attend the nonresident LEA may be voided by the LEA. A student who transfers to a nonresident LEA may complete all remaining school years in the nonresident LEA without reapplying each year. Any sibling of a student enrolled in a nonresident LEA may enroll in the same nonresident LEA if the LEA has the capacity and the sibling has no discipline issues, as provided in the act. The transferring student or the student's parent is responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the boundaries of the nonresident LEA in which the student is enrolled. Nonresident LEAs shall provide transportation within the boundaries of the LEA, but charter schools that do not currently provide transportation services are exempt from this requirement. Transportation costs shall included in the nonresident LEA's calculation for transportation reimbursement under current law. For the purposes of determining federal and state aid, a student who transfers to a nonresident school district LEA shall be counted as a resident of the nonresident LEA. For a student transferring to a nonresident charter school LEA, state aid for such student shall be determined by multiplying the weighted average daily attendance of such transferring student by the state adequacy target and multiplying this product by the dollar-value modifier, as the terms "weighted average daily attendance", "state adequacy target", and "dollar-value modifier" are defined in current law, and certain provisions of state law providing for state aid payments to charter schools shall not apply to such calculation. For purposes of payment to special school districts, a transferring student receiving services from a special school district shall be counted as a resident pupil of the nonresident LEA in which the student is enrolled. If a student receives 50% or more of such student's instruction from the special school district, the special school district shall receive all funding which would otherwise be paid to the nonresident LEA for such student. The provisions of the act shall not be construed to relieve any resident LEA of its responsibility to pay toward the cost of the education of children who receive special educational services or attend the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled, as provided in current law. PARENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE FUND (Sections 167.1211 and 167.1212) The act establishes the "Parent Public School Choice Fund". Appropriations to the fund shall be used to supplement state aid payments to LEAs that participate in the open enrollment program and reimburse nonresident LEAs for the costs of providing special educational services for students with an IEP, as provided in the act. DESE shall annually evaluate the availability and use of moneys from the fund and, if necessary, request additional funds by a specific line item appropriation as part of the legislative budget process. NUMBER OF TRANSFER STUDENTS (Section 167.1215) Before November 1st annually, each LEA shall publish and notify DESE of the number of transfer students the LEA is willing to receive for the following school year, delineated by building, grade, classroom, or program, if such criteria for acceptance have been set by the LEA. An LEA shall not be required to accept any transfer students above this published number. A special school district shall consult with each partner school district and, before November 1st annually, shall notify DESE of the number of likely available spots for special education services at each partner school district, as provided in the act. The online resource created by DESE shall include a waiting list for applications to nonresident LEAs. The online resource shall notify each applicant that the applicant's transfer application may be subject to placement on such waiting list if the number of transfer applications exceeds the number of available transfers. The act sets forth a priority order for acceptance of applications from the waiting list. A parent of a student on the waiting list shall be informed by DESE of the details of the operation of the list and whether the parent will be required to refile an application for open enrollment in order to remain on the waiting list. APPLICATION PROCESS (Section 167.1220) The parent of a student seeking a transfer shall submit an application to DESE between November 15th and January 1st of the school year before the school year in which the student seeks to begin the fall semester, as provided in the act. No more than five transfer applications per school year shall be submitted for any student. Upon receiving an application, DESE shall assign a unique identifying number to the application. On or before January 15th, DESE shall conduct a lottery of eligible applications to determine which student transfers DESE will approve for submission to the nonresident LEAs, subject to conditions set forth in the act, and shall also notify each nonresident LEA of applications that DESE has approved for transfer. The governing body of the nonresident LEA shall request from all schools attended by the student within the last 12 months certain records relating to the transfer, including special education records, discipline records, and records of behavioral risk assessments. An LEA that receives such a request for records shall respond to the request within five business days. Any official to whom such information is disclosed shall comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Nonresident LEAs shall review and make a determination on transfer applications received from DESE within 10 business days, as provided in the act. If a nonresident LEA rejects an application, DESE shall submit the next application on the waiting list to the nonresident LEA for consideration. Before March 1st of the school year preceding the school year in which a student seeks to enroll in a nonresident LEA, the nonresident LEA's superintendent shall notify DESE as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected through the online resource created by DESE. Within three business days of sending notifications to the resident and nonresident LEAs, DESE shall notify the parent as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected, as provided in the act. If an application is rejected, DESE's notification shall state the nonresident LEA's reason for the rejection. If an application is accepted, DESE shall state in its notification a reasonable deadline before which the student shall enroll, along with instructions for renewing enrollment each year. DESE shall also notify the resident LEA of the student's participation. DESE shall further notify the student and the student's parent of the opportunity to participate in an anonymous survey provided by DESE regarding all reasons for the student's and parent's interest in participating in the open enrollment program. DESE shall publish an annual report based on the survey results, providing aggregate data of sufficient detail to allow analysis of trends regarding the reasons for participation in the open enrollment program at the statewide, regional, and local levels. The annual report shall also include detection and analysis of the impact of the program on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic balance among schools and LEAs. No such survey results shall be published in a manner that would allow for the identification of data attributable to a specific LEA or that reveals information regarding a group of five or fewer students. DESE shall privately share data specific to each LEA with each LEA prior to publishing the annual report. If a student declines enrolling in the nonresident LEA, provided the nonresident LEA still has capacity to accept additional students, DESE shall send the LEA the next application on the waiting list for consideration. No additional open enrollment transfer applications shall be sent by DESE or approved by a nonresident LEA after April 15th of the school year immediately preceding the school year of enrollment. SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND GIFTED CHILDREN (Section 167.1224) Before enrolling in a nonresident LEA, a student with certain special educational needs, English as a second language (ESL) needs, or who is identified as a gifted child shall be provided the same process that exists for a resident student moving into the nonresident LEA. The nonresident LEA, parent, or both shall have the opportunity to reevaluate the student to determine what comparable special educational services may be required or what programs or services for which the student may be eligible. A nonresident LEA is responsible for providing a free appropriate education to the student and shall provide the same or substantially similar services as a resident student would receive. Before enrolling in the nonresident LEA, if necessary, a transferring student and parent shall be provided the opportunity to develop a new or amended IEP, individualized family service plan, or 504 plan, or to evaluate the ESL, gifted, or dyslexia programs and services provided by the nonresident LEA. The nonresident LEA shall provide the student and parent with prior written notice documenting the services that the nonresident LEA determines appropriate to meet the student's needs. The nonresident LEA shall offer the transferring student 10 business days to accept or decline the acceptance of the nonresident LEA. LEAs that are served by a special school district shall execute a form agreement prepared by DESE with such special school district regarding finance, staffing, and other relevant items prior to participating in open enrollment. An LEA and a special school district may choose to modify such form agreement, but no modifications shall delay the LEA's participating in open enrollment. A nonresident LEA shall make reasonable accommodations to address the needs of incoming transferring students and to provide such students with equal access to a free appropriate public education. These provisions shall not be construed to preclude a nonresident LEA from adding additional staff, services, or programs, or to preclude the nonresident LEA from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure proper placement of a transferring student. AUTHORIZED EXEMPTIONS (Section 167.1225) A student may participate in open enrollment if such student's transfer does not cause the resident LEA to conflict with a provision of an enforceable desegregation court order or a court-approved desegregation plan. An LEA may annually declare an exemption from the program if the LEA is subject to such court order or plan, as provided in the act. Any LEA declaring such exemption shall notify DESE of such before November 1st of the preceding school year. The act sets forth certain exemptions from open enrollment for students who qualify for transfers under current law and for LEAs that receive transfer students under such provisions. If a student transfers from a resident LEA that is a K-8 school district to another school district for any of grades 6-8, the resident LEA shall pay tuition to the nonresident LEA upon the student's promotion to 9th grade as provided in current law. For any student who transfers to a nonresident LEA that is a K-8 school district, the K-8 school district shall not be considered such student's resident LEA for any purpose after the student completes 8th grade or upon the student's transfer out of the K-8 school district before completing 8th grade. ANNUAL REPORTING AND AUDITING (Section 167.1229) DESE shall collect and report data annually from school LEAs on the number of applications and study the effects of transfers under the act. DESE shall consider, as part of its study, the maximum number of transfers and exemptions for both resident and nonresident LEAs for up to two years to determine if a significant racially segregative impact has occurred in any LEA. The report shall be submitted annually before December 1st to the Joint Committee on Education, the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Senate Committee on Education. DESE shall annually make a random selection of 10% of the LEAs participating in the open enrollment program and audit each selected LEA's transfers approved or denied under policies adopted by the school board. If DESE determines that a selected LEA is improperly implementing and administering the transfer process, DESE may withhold any state aid provided to the LEA until the LEA corrects the transfer process improprieties identified by the audit. This act is substantially similar to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025) and HCS#2/SS/SB 266 (2025), and is similar to HB 2604 (2026), SB 1051 (2024), HCS/HB 1989 (2024), SCS/SB 5 (2023), SB 1010 (2022), HB 1814 (2022), and HS/HCS/HB 543 (2021). OLIVIA SHANNON

SS/SCS/SB 970 - This act provides that when calculating an enrollee's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket max or any cost-sharing requirement under a health benefit plan, a health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall include any amounts paid by the enrollee or paid on behalf of the enrollee for any medication for which a generic substitute is not available. Additionally, no health carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall design benefits in a manner that takes into account the availability of any cost-sharing assistance program for any medication for which a generic drug substitute is not available. The provisions of this act shall apply to health benefit plans entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after August 28, 2026. This act is similar to HB 79 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SB 45 (2025), and similar to provisions in SB 187 (2025), SB 512 (2025), SB 1106 (2024), SB 844 (2024), SB 1190 (2024), HCS/HB 442 (2023), HB 1628 (2024), SB 269 (2023), and SB 1031 (2022). TAYLOR MIDDLETON