MissouriPublic colleges would follow specified board membership rules
Public colleges would use institution-specific board rules, while schools could offer agricultural education and adults could pursue diplomas through approved providers.
What it does
Public college boards would follow institution-specific rules for board size, geographic representation, student members, residency, and political-party limits.
Public elementary schools could choose an agricultural education program beginning in the 2027-28 school year, but participating districts would have to pay for it.
Adults without high school diplomas could use approved providers for diploma and career training, subject to provider approval, available funding, and program rules.
Argument forAdults without diplomas could gain access to structured coursework, career training, and job-placement help when funding is available.
Argument againstParticipating elementary school districts may have to fully fund agricultural education, which could strain local school budgets.
More detail
Public college and university governing boards would use the membership, residency, student-member, and political-party rules stated for each institution. The provisions cover Harris-Stowe State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri State University, Missouri Southern State University, Missouri Western State University, Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Central Missouri, Truman State University, Lincoln University, and State Technical College of Missouri. Most voting board members must be U.S. citizens and Missouri residents for at least two years before appointment. The governor appoints members with Senate approval where the section requires it. Some boards include a nonvoting student member, and several boards limit how many voting members may live in the institution's home county or belong to one political party.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would run an agricultural education program for public elementary schools and create a process for schools to participate. The program covers public elementary schools that choose to participate; schools are not required to join. A participating local school board must agree to implement and fully fund the program. The department would develop grade-appropriate instruction with classroom, hands-on, leadership, and career activities. The department would maintain staff, instructional models, standards, support, and program evaluation. The program would begin in the 2027-28 school year; participating schools would apply through the department's process.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education would operate a workforce diploma program through approved providers. The program serves Missouri residents age 21 or older who do not have a high school diploma. Approved providers must be accredited diploma-granting entities with adult dropout recovery experience and must offer learning plans, remediation, career training, and related support. Providers would be paid for listed education and career milestones, but they could not receive program funding for a student who has other state, federal, or private tuition funding. Providers could not charge fees for the state-funded program, and payments would depend on an appropriation and available funds. The department would seek provider qualifications annually, and providers could enroll students each program year after department approval.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 13Delivered to Secretary of State (G)Latest
- Jul 13Approved by Governor Mike Kehoe (G)Became Law
- May 28Delivered to Governor
- May 28Signed by President Pro Tem (S)
- May 28Signed by House Speaker (H)
- May 21House Message (H)
- May 15Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 140 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 1Major
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 26 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 140 NOES: 2 PRESENT: 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 15House Adopts (H) - SS SCS
- May 15Taken Up
- May 15Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 8 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- May 15Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- May 15Referred: Fiscal Review(H)Minor
- May 15Reported to the House with... (H) - SS SCS
- May 15Third Read and Passed (S) - AYES: 26 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0Passed Senate
- May 15SS Adopted (S)
- May 15SS OfferedMinor
- May 15Taken Up for Third Reading (S)Minor
- May 7Placed on Informal Calendar
- May 7Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- May 7Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- May 7Executive Session Held (S)
- May 5Referred: Fiscal Oversight(S)Minor
- May 4SCS Reported Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 28SCS Voted Do Pass (S)Minor
- Apr 28Executive Session Held (S)
- Apr 23Executive Session Scheduled - Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 8:00 a.m., Senate Lounge - 3rd Floor
- Apr 14Public Hearing Held (S)
- Apr 9Public Hearing Scheduled (S) - Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 8:00 a.m., Senate Lounge - 3rd Floor
- Mar 23Second read and referred: Education(S)
- Mar 11Reported to the Senate and First Read (S)Minor
- Vote recorded Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 111 NOES: 17 PRESENT: 18. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Third Read and Passed (H) - AYES: 111 NOES: 17 PRESENT: 18Passed House
- Mar 11Taken Up for Third Reading (H)Minor
- Mar 9Perfected (H)
- Mar 9Title of Bill - Agreed To
- Mar 9Taken Up for Perfection (H)
- Mar 2Placed on the Informal Perfection Calendar (H)
- Feb 23Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0Minor
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 10 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 23Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 23Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 18Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)Minor
- Feb 17Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 1Minor
- Vote recorded Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Voted Do Pass (H)Minor
- Feb 17Executive Session Completed (H)
- Feb 10Public Hearing Completed (H)
- Jan 27Referred: Higher Education and Workforce Development(H)Minor
- Jan 12Read Second Time (H)Minor
- Jan 8Introduced and Read First Time (H)Introduced
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