DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (Sections 23.295, 160.575, 170.012, 173.095 to 173.187, 173.236, 173.262, 173.264, 173.265, 173.475, 173.775 to 173.796, 173.2565, 173.2566, 173.2570, 173.2571, 173.2572, 178.550, 178.585, 186.019, 288.040, 620.484, 620.490, 620.511, 620.512, and 620.513)

Under this act, several references to the Department of Economic Development now reference the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD). (Sections 23.295, 160.575, 173.2565, 173.2566, 173.2570, 173.2571, 173.2572, 178.550, 178.585, 186.019, 288.040, 620.484, 620.490, 620.511, 620.512, and 620.513).

These provisions are similar to provisions in SB 128 (2025), SB 1217 (2024), SB 1371 (2024), HB 2650 (2024), SB 580 (2023), and SB 1195 (2022).

The act provides that no new public colleges or universities, rather than no new state-supported senior colleges or universities, shall be established without approval of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. (Section 173.005)

Additionally, the act repeals certain provisions of law relating to the duties of DHEWD, including duties pertaining to the following requirements and programs:

- The Career Readiness Course Task Force: repeals a dually enacted provision (Section 167.910);

- Graduate student teaching assignments (Section 170.012);

- The Missouri Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the State Guaranty Student Loan Fund, and the Lender of Last Resort Revolving Fund (Sections 173.095 to 173.187);

- The Vietnam Veterans Survivors Grant: repeals an expired grant (Section 173.236);

- The Marguerite Ross Barnett Memorial Scholarship (Section 173.262);

- The International Economic Development Exchange Program and corresponding advisory committee (Sections 173.264 and 173.265);

- Higher education faculty hiring practices (Section 173.475);

- The Advantage Missouri Program (Sections 173.775 to 173.796); and

- The Missouri Youth Service and Conservation Corps and the Youth Service and Conservation Corps Fund (Sections 620.552 to 620.574).

The act also repeals provisions transferring certain duties relating to workforce development to the Department of Economic Development. (Section 620.010)

Finally, the act modifies the Show-Me Heroes administered by DHEWD by repealing the provision that services shall be available to a National Guard serviceperson for up to five years of discharge from deployment. (Section 620.515)

These provisions are similar to SB 1371 (2024), HB 2650 (2024), and provisions in SCS/SB 757 (2025).

MISSOURI EDUCATION PROGRAM (Section 166.435)

The act modifies the Missouri Education Program by providing that a certain state tax deduction for contributions shall apply only to contributions made to the Missouri Higher Education Deposit Program or the Missouri Education Program, or both, removing eligibility for such state tax deduction for contributions to any 529 plan under federal law.

This provision is identical to HB 1272 (2025).

AUTHORITY TO CONFER DEGREES (Sections 172.280 and 174.160)

The act authorizes Missouri State University to grant Doctor of Philosophy degrees in disciplines other than engineering and to grant Bachelor of Science degrees in veterinary technology.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025), CCS/HCS/SS/SB 160 (2025), and HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025).

THE STATE UNIVERSITY'S SEMINARY FUND (Sections 172.640, 172.650, 172.651, 172.610, 172.660, 172.661, 172.680, and 172.720)

This act provides that the University of Missouri shall enter into an agreement with the State Treasurer to establish a separate custodial account in which the moneys in the University's Seminary Fund shall be deposited and held. The University shall invest such moneys in government bonds as provided in current law, and may withdraw the earnings on such bonds and use any such withdrawals for the maintenance of the University, as provided in the act. The University shall provide financial reports on the custodial account to the State Treasurer no less often than annually.

The act repeals provisions relating to the State Treasurer's current duties as custodian of the Seminary Fund.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 627 (2025).

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMINATIONS (Section 173.1352)

This act requires public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy for undergraduate course credit for any student who receives a score of 4 or higher on an International Baccalaureate exam.

This provision is identical to SB 243 (2025), HB 291 (2025), HCS/HBs 1017 & 291 (2025), and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024), HB 1578 (2024), HB 2051 (2024), and HB 2415 (2024), and is substantially similar to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025).

CAREER-TECH CERTIFICATE PROGRAM (Section 173.836)

This act establishes the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program" and the "Career-Tech Certificate (CTC) Program Fund" to reimburse the costs of eligible students' tuition, books, and fees to certain approved institutions, such as two-year community colleges and technical schools, that offer eligible programs of study or training programs.

The act defines an "eligible student" as any student who meets the eligibility requirements for the A+ Schools Program or who has earned a Career and Technical Education Certificate in accordance with criteria outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To qualify, the student shall not have received reimbursement for tuition, books, or fees under the A+ Schools Program. An "eligible program of study" is a program of instruction that results in the award of a certificate or credential below the graduate level in an area of occupational shortage, as determined annually by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. The length of an eligible program of study shall not exceed the equivalent of 60 credit hours. A "training program" is defined as a program of study that leads to a certificate or degree that does not meet the length-of-program requirements for an eligible program under federal regulations regarding federal grants and loans for postsecondary students. Training programs include, but are not limited to, certified nurse assistant programs, certified medication technician programs, commercial driver's license programs, and other programs outlined in the act.

Beginning in the 2026-27 school year and for all subsequent years, the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish a procedure to reimburse the costs of tuition, books, and fees from the CTC Program Fund to the approved institution at which an eligible student is enrolled in an eligible program of study or a training program. Tuition reimbursements shall not exceed the tuition rate charged by a public community college for coursework offered by a two-year private vocational or technical school, virtual institution, or eligible training provider. A private vocational or technical school, institution, or training provider shall request authorization from DHEWD for tuition reimbursement before a student enrolls if there is a public community college or vocational or technical school in the same service region offering the same or a substantially similar eligible program of study or training program, as provided in the act.

Eligibility for reimbursements under the act shall expire upon the earliest of (a) the approved institution's receipt of the reimbursement for the required length of the eligible program of study or training program, (b) a student's successful completion of an eligible program of study or training program, or (c) a student's completion of 150% of the time usually required to complete an eligible program of study or training program.

The Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development shall establish by rule procedures for the reimbursement of tuition, books, and fees to all approved institutions, provided that no rule established shall prohibit a student from qualifying for tuition reimbursement solely because such student's program of study or training program does not meet the length-of-program requirements for federal financial aid or does not participate in federal student aid programs.

This provision is similar to HCS/HB 331 (2025), SB 1065 (2024), HB 76 (2023), and provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON