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Bills Heard This Week
It was a busy week for the legislature with the deadline to pass the budget set for Friday, May 9. The budget conference committee evaluated half of the bills on Wednesday, including HB 3, the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development's (MDHEWD) budget bill. Notable decisions include:
- 3% core increase to Missouri public institutions of higher education, matching the Coordinating Board for Higher Education’s recommendation and doubling the Governor’s recommendation of a 1.5% core increase
- Increases for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant
- One-time funds for a student reengagement initiative
- $1.3 million for the Missouri Returning Heroes scholarship
- Spending authority increases for the Office of Workforce Development
- The Governor’s recommendation on the employee pay plan, with a 1% pay increase for every two years of service, capped at 10% for 20 years
Both chambers will vote on the conference committee budget Friday, May 9.
There are four omnibus higher education bills, with two of them (SB 150 and SB 160) going to conference committees this week. The conference committee substitute for SB 160 removes the language from HB 606 that had been offered as an amendment, as well as several other topics MDHEWD has been tracking this session. SB 150 contains language changing the mission statement for Missouri Southern State University, the MDHEWD proprietary school language, and language to facilitate specific degree programs to transfer between community colleges and four-year institutions. The remaining two omnibus education bills are HB 606 and HB 419. HB 606 was referred to the Senate Education Committee and does not have a hearing scheduled. HB 419 is on the House calendar.
Upcoming Hearings
There are currently no hearings scheduled to hear bills from the MDHEWD Bill Tracking List.
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