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Sb 411 & 230 Update: Edited 5-6-2023
PDF Links to previous Alerts and Information:
4-23-2023 Capitol Report SB 411 & 230 Impromptu Visit
4-18-2023 Capitol Report SB 411 & 230 Immediate Attention
4-17-2023 Capitol Report SB 411 & 230 Call the House
4-7-2023 Capitol Report SB 411 & 230 Action Alert Update
4-4-2023 Capitol Report SB 411 & 230 Immediate Attention
3-23-2023 Capitol Report SCS SB 411 & 230 Update – Homeschool Activities Bill
3-23-2023 Capitol Report with SCS SB 411 & 230 - Homeschool Activities Bill
3-14-2023 Capitol Report SB 255 Update – ESA bill
3-14-2023 Guidelines for Contacting Your Legislators
3-10-2023 Capitol Report SCS SB 255 – ESA Bill
3-4-2023 Capitol Report SB 255 – ESA Bill
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FHE is continuing to watch bills closely as they proceed to committee hearings, to the floor for debate, and to the next chamber for the final vetting.
Below is a list of bills we are watching. Some bills are filed every year such as lowering or raising the compulsory attendance age. Other bills we must evaluate individually. FHE opposes any ESA which would include funding a home school with government money. FHE supports and is working toward removing a home school from the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program. FHE watches all bills to make sure they will not infringe on our Missouri home school freedoms.
There were changes in the status of a few bills. The changes are highlighted in green.
Compulsory Attendance – FHE opposes any bill that would lower or raise the compulsory attendance age
HB 793 - Modifies provisions relating to age for school entry (Lowers compulsory attendance age to 5 years old)
Sponsor: Ian Mackey
Bill Information page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB793&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0345H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary Page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0793I.pdf
Last Action: 1/18/2023 Read Second Time (H)
Home School Extracurricular Public School Participation – FHE is Neutral on these bills
HB 241 - Prohibits public school membership in any statewide activities association that prohibits home school students from participating in any event or activity offered by the school district in which the student resides
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB241&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0741H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary Page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0241I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time (H)
SB 230 - Provides that school districts shall not prohibit home school students from trying out or auditioning for team or club membership in any event or activity offered by the school district
Sponsor – Jill Carter
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44599
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB230.pdf
Last Action Last Action: 3/23/2023 - Bill Combined (w/SCS SBs 411 & 230)
SB 411 - Provides that no school district shall be a member of a statewide activities association that prohibits a home school student from participating in any event or activity offered by a public school in the school district in which the student resides
Sponsor: Ben Brown
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=419482
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB411.pdf
SCS SB 411 & 230: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/comm/SB411.pdf
Last Action: 4/11/2023 - Formal Calendar S Bills for Perfection
Tax Credits for a Home School – We are watching these bills closely
SCS SB 81 – The Home School Tax credit was removed from the “Introduced” version of the bill, FHE will continue to watch the bill closely
SB 81 - Authorizes parents to choose the school that their children attend and creates a tax credit for educational expenses incurred by parents whose children attend home schools
Sponsor – Coleman
Information Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44572
Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB81.pdf
Senate Committee Substitute: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/comm/SB81.pdf
Last Action: 4/4/2023 - Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection
SB 226 - Authorizes a tax credit for certain education expenses
Sponsor – Nick Schroer
Information Page: https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44437
Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB226.pdf
Last Action: 3/23/2023 - Voted Do Pass S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SB 565 - Creates a tax credit for educational expenses incurred by parents whose children attend a home school, a virtual school, or a school outside of their district of residence
Sponsor: Andrew Koenig
Information Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=2020261
Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB565.pdf
Last Action: 4/3/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
Empowerment Scholarship Account Bills – Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account Program (MOScholars)
HB 242 - Modifies provisions relating to Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts (Removes a home school from the MOScholars Program)
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB242&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0762H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0242I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 243 - Expands the availability of Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts to qualified students living in any county with at least one hundred thousand inhabitants
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB243&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0752H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0243I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 244 - Expands the definition of a qualified student for purposes of eligibility for Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB244&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0755H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0244I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 245 - Allows students who are qualified for Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts to remain eligible in years after the student accepted no grant
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB245&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0758H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0245I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 332 - Expands the definition of a qualified student for purposes of eligibility for Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB332&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0754H.02I.pdf
Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0332I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 350 - Expands Missouri empowerment scholarship amounts for students with special needs
Sponsor: Phil Christophanelli
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB350&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0400H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0350I.pdf
Last Action: Elementary and Secondary Education(H)
Hearing Completed – Executive Session -4/5/2023 HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
HB 572 - Modifies provisions relating to Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts
Sponsor – Chris Sander
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB572&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1550H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0572I.pdf
Last Action: 1/05/2023 Read Second Time
HB 875 - Expands the availability of Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts to qualified students living in counties containing a city with at least thirty thousand inhabitants
Sponsor: Josh Hurlbert
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB875&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1856H.02I.pdf
Last Action: 1/19/2023 Read Second Time
SB 255 - Establishing the Education Savings Account program (This bill is a government funded ESA bill which does not clearly exclude a home school: therefore, FHE is opposed to this bill.)
Sponsor – Rick Brattin
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44642
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB255.pdf
Current version SCS SB 255: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/SCSfromResearch/SB255.pdf
Last Action: 3/7/2023 - SCS Voted Do Pass S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SB 360 - Modifies provisions of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program (Removes a home school parent from the background check requirement)
Sponsor – Andrew Koenig
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44742
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB360.pdf
SCS Bill Substitute: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/comm/SB360.pdf
Last Action: 4/11/2023 - Informal Calendar S Bills for Perfection
FHE ESA Policy
Tax-Credit ESA
FHE does not ask the government for money: therefore, for the most part FHE has been neutral on Tax-credit education proposals since it is private money supporting a school option allowed by the state of Missouri. Here are 2 court case links affirming the fact that tax credits are not government money: Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, 536 U.S. 639 (2002) and Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn, 563 U.S. 125 (2011).
FHE has diligently followed proposed ESA bills in the Missouri legislature to ensure Missouri homeschool freedoms are secure. As the MOScholar bill progressed through the legislature, we diligently watched and lobbied legislators with our concerns. The biggest concerns came when the Missouri state treasurer wrote the regulations for the program. FHE has asked the legislature to remove a home school from the MOScholars program.
Government funded ESAs and Educational Vouchers
FHE opposes a home school being a “qualified school” of government funded ESAs and educational vouchers. Along with government money comes regulations requiring accountability to the program. This would add more regulation on a home school than is required by the Missouri compulsory attendance statute, RSMo 167.031.2.
Parents’ Rights – The bills which have been introduced so far are for the protection of public school parents. We are neutral on these bills. FHE supports bills that will protect the rights of all parents to direct the education and upbringing of their own children.
HB 482 - Establishes provisions governing transparency in public education
Sponsor – Ben Baker
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB482&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1250H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0482I.pdf
HCS HB 482: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1250H.03C.pdf
HCS HB 482 Summary: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0482C.pdf
Last Action: House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
3/30/202 HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 5 PRESENT: 0
4/05/2023 Referred: Rules - Regulatory Oversight(H)
HB 627 - Establishes the Parents' Bill of Rights
Sponsor – Phil Christophanelli
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB627&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1433H.01I.pdf
Bill Summary: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0627I.pdf
HCS HB 627: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/1433H.02C.pdf
HCS HB 627 Summary: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0627C.pdf
Last Action: 3/30/2023 H 1285 HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 11 NOES: 4 PRESENT: 0
4/05/2023 Referred: Rules - Regulatory Oversight(H)
HB 634 - Establishes protections of parental rights to direct the mental, emotional, and physical health and well-being of children
Sponsor-Ann Kelley
Bill Information Page: https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB634&year=2023&code=R
Bill as Introduced: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/hlrbillspdf/0414H.02I.pdf
Bill Summary page: https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills231/sumpdf/HB0634I.pdf
Last Action: 3/01/2023 Public Hearing Completed (H) – House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
SCS SBs 4, 42 & 89
SB 4 - Modifies provisions regarding transparency in public schools and creates the Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2023
Sponsor – Andrew Koenig
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44578
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB4.pdf
Senate Committee Substitute: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/comm/SB4.pdf
SS #2 SCS SB 4,42, &89 (Perfected): https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/perf/SB4.pdf
Last Action: 4/12/2023 - Hearing Scheduled House Elementary and Secondary Education--(8:00 a.m. - HR 7)
SB 158 - Creates provisions regarding parental rights and transparency in public schools
Sponsor – Nick Schroer
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44432
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB158.pdf
Last Action: 1/26/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SB 318 - Creates the "Empowering Missouri Parents Act" regarding parental rights in public schools
Sponsor – Bill Eigel
Bill Information Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44446
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB318.pdf
Last Action: 2/23/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SB 451 - Establishes the "Parents' Bill of Rights" to protect and promote the rights of parents to participate in and direct the education of their child and to know what is being taught in their child's public school
Sponsor – Curtis Trent
Bill Information Page: https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=632942
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SB451.pdf
Last Action: 3/2/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SJR 6 - Amends the Constitution to assert the right of parents to participate in and direct the education of their children (If passed, this would go to the voters for approval.)
Sponsor – Caleb Rowden
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44591
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SJR6.pdf
Last Action: 1/12/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
SJR 29 - Provides for parents' exclusive right to control the upbringing of their children (If passed, this would go to the voters for approval)
Sponsor – Jill Carter
Bill Information and Summary Page: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44699
Bill as Introduced: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/intro/SJR29.pdf
Last Action: 1/19/2023 - Second Read and Referred S Education and Workforce Development Committee
FHE appreciates your support of homeschooling and your willingness to stand with us to protect our Missouri homeschool freedoms. Thank you for being part of the team. It takes all of us to work together!!!
Thank you to all that joined FHE for the 2023 Homeschool Day at the Capitol!!
Save the date for next year, March 5, 2024, for the 2024 Homeschool Day at the Capitol.
(For more bill information visit www.house.mo.gov or www.senate.mo.gov)
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