Missouri House of Representatives
Considers Operational Budgets on Floor
On Tuesday, March 28, the Missouri House of Representatives considered the House Committee Substitute for HBs 3001-3013 and HB 3015. During floor consideration of HB 3, House Budget Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) introduced amendments to the bill, which the chamber subsequently adopted. The amendment adjusted the public universities’ 7% inflationary core increase that the Chairman moved to a developing performance funding model. The change returned 5% of the inflationary increase to the universities but reserved the remaining 2% for the performance model.
Across all HBs, Rep. Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs) introduced budget language met with concern from several legislators. The language reads as follows:
"Section 3.307. To the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development and public institutions of higher education In reference to all sections in Part 1 of this act: No funds shall be expended for staffing, vendors, consultants, or programs associated with “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion,” or “Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging,” or any other initiative which similarly promotes: 1) the preferential treatment of any individual or group of individuals based upon race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, national origin, or ancestry; 2) the concept that disparities are necessarily tied to oppression; 3) collective guilt ideologies; 4) intersectional or divisive identity activism; or, 5) the limiting of freedom of conscience, thought, or speech. This does not prohibit the department from following federal and state employment and anti-discrimination laws."
During floor debate on the amendment, legislators questioned the terms outlined and noted the need for definitions or clarity in the proposed language. Others in opposition called the language “inappropriate” for the budget and decried the action demonstrated as “legislating through the budget.” Those in favor shared their concerns with what they believe is a growing issue across departments and society at large.
Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis) demanded a roll call vote during the amendment’s first consideration under HB 2, House Amendment No. 11. The House adopted the language with a vote of 97-48, with 18 absent.
Another change in HB 3 came from Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern’s (D-Kansas City) amendment, which increased funding intended for LaunchKC from $200,000 to $350,000.
An amendment to provide all inflationary increase dollars to universities (Rep. Peter Meredith) and language to create an exception for higher education institutions to offer in-state tuition to students with unlawful immigration status who graduated from a Missouri high school (Rep. Emily Weber, D-Kansas City) failed during floor votes.
On Thursday, May 30, the House third read and passed the HBs; the HBs await consideration by the Missouri Senate in the coming weeks. You will find other changes to HB 3 in the March 24 Legislative Update.
Original A+ Bill Retitled, Passes on House Floor
On Wednesday, March 30, the Missouri House of Representatives considered Rep. Ann Kelley’s (R-Lamar) HB 76. During consideration, Rep. Kelley introduced amendments that significantly modified the original A+ Schools focused bill. The first amendment renamed the proposed “A+ Certificate Program” to the “Career-Tech Certificate Program.” While it maintains provisions outlined in previous iterations of the legislation, the change effectively creates a new financial aid program. In addition to the program title change, it adds language that states:
“No tuition reimbursement shall be provided under this section to an eligible student who enrolls in a private vocational or technical school, virtual institution, or eligible training provider if a public community college or vocational or technical school located within a forty-mile radius of such student's domicile offers the same or a substantially similar eligible program of study or training program, as determined by the department on a case-by-case basis.”
The legislation now heads to House Fiscal Review for consideration.
Other Updates:
- On Monday, March 27, the House Rules – Administrative Oversight Committee voted do-pass on Rep. Richey’s HB 1196, which prohibits any public institution of postsecondary education from requiring any applicant, employee, student, or contractor to endorse “discriminatory ideology” as defined by the legislation. It further prevents institutions from requiring a "diversity, equity, and inclusion statement" from such individuals as defined in the bill. The legislation is on the House Informal Perfection Calendar, awaiting floor consideration.
- On Tuesday, March 28, the Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee considered Chairman Andrew Koenig’s (R-Manchester) SB 410, which proposes the “Do No Harm Act” relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements. The legislation is similar to HB 489, a bill referenced in the March 10 Legislative Update. The committee will likely vote on the legislation next week.
- On Tuesday, March 28, the Senate Emerging Issues Committee considered SB 159, legislation prohibiting public schools and institutions of higher education from requiring any employee or student to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or gene therapy to be physically present at any events, premises, or facilities. The bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to investigate and report violations.
- On Wednesday, May 29, the House Higher Education Committee voted do-pass on two bills. The committee first rolled HB 887 into HB 502. HB 887 establishes the STEM Career Awareness Activity Program, while HB 502 changes "METS Week" to "STEM Week" in statute. HB 515, which establishes the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Grant program for Access Missouri Financial Assistance Program award recipients, passed the committee with one amendment. The amendment specifies that an initial or renewal recipient, who has committed to a program of study that will result in a STEM degree, may receive up to $2,000 in STEM grants.
- The House Budget Committee will continue discussion on HBs 17-19 on Monday, April 3. These bills include FY 23 reappropriations (HB 17) and new capital improvement funds for higher education institutions (HB 19).
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