Higher Education-Related Bills Passed by House, Over to Senate for Consideration
This week, the House of Representatives passed the following measures that will impact higher education if they are passed by the Senate and signed by Gov. Mike Parson.
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HCR 29, sponsored by Rep. Louis Riggs (R-Hannibal). Designates Harris-Stowe State University as an institution with a statewide mission in STEM for underrepresented and minority students. The resolution has been referred to the Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions, and Ethics Committee.
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HB 297, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Wallingford (R-Cape Girardeau). The bill, which has grown into a higher education omnibus bill, has been referred to the Senate Education Committee. The committee will hear the bill on Tuesday, April 20. The bill contains provisions that originated in the following legislation.
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HB 856—Allows public colleges and universities to exceed the limitations on tuition increases currently established by the Higher Education Student Funding Act. (Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs)
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HB 297—Designates Southeast Missouri State University as an institution with a statewide mission in performing arts, computer science, and cybersecurity. (Rep. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau)
- Allows the Curators of the University of Missouri to subdivide, sell, or convey title to land located within a university campus.
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HB 908—Designates Northwest Missouri State University as an institution with a statewide mission in educator preparation, emergency and disaster management, and profession-based learning. (Rep. Allen Andrews, R-Grant City)
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HB 355—Creates the "Students’ Right to Know Act." (Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho)
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HB 1208—Requires public colleges and universities to adopt and implement policies that will give undergraduate course credit to entering freshman students for each advanced placement examination upon which the student achieved a score of three or higher. (Rep. Chris Brown, R-Kansas City)
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HB 627—Changes the name of the Missouri Education Savings Program to the Missouri Education Program, establishes the Show Me Child Development Account Program, and creates the Missouri Children's Development Account Program Fund. (Rep. Jonathan Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit)
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HB 306, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Griesheimer (R-Washington). The bill includes language that originated in HB 1067, sponsored by Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial. The language would require the Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) to apply a high school student's highest available grade point average in making determinations about A+ eligibility so the student is not adversely affected by any negative change in academic performance caused by COVID-19. This bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee, which will hear the bill on Tuesday, April 20.
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HB 320, sponsored by Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit). The bill would require public colleges and universities to treat a successfully completed computer science course the same as a science course or practical arts credit for purposes of admissions requirements. It would also establish a Computer Science Education Task Force. The House has passed the bill, which will next be reported to the Senate.
Senate Appropriations Committee to Consider HB 3
On Monday, April 19, the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Dan Hegeman (R-Colby) will begin consideration and mark-up of budget bills including HB 3. The hearing is set to begin at 1 p.m. You can find the mark-up document the committee will use here. You can tune into the hearing here. During the hearing, Senate members will decide whether to accept the Governor’s recommendations or the House's position, or establish a position of their own.
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