HB 31 and SB 63 - For Information Purposes (1-31-2025): Both bills will be heard this coming week and open for testimony. This is NOT an Alert, but if you want to join us in Jefferson City for one or both bills, that will help show support within the homeschool community. OR you can send in testimony, especially if you have dealt with the public schools requiring you to fill out their letter of intent to homeschool which, as you know, is not required in the law. Many of you have stories that need to be told. If you agree with FHE and want to testify so that your opinion counts and/or email the Committee (not your actual legislator since neither bill has gone to the floor yet), here is that information.
See FHE’s Capitol Report under List of Bills for an explanation of both bills.
HB 31, Home School Protections - repeals RSMo 167.042 (the letter of intent statute) and adds probable cause where the local prosecuting attorney needs to have sufficient evidence a law has been violated before bringing on an educational neglect charge against you.
House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee Hearing on Date: Wednesday, 2/5/2025 Time: 12:00 PM or upon adjournment (whichever is later); Submit Testimony HEARING HAS BEEN POSTPONED
House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee Members:
Rep. Lewis, Chair - [email protected]
Rep. Banderman, Vice Chair - [email protected]
Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, Ranking Minority Member - [email protected]
Rep. Baker - [email protected]
Rep, Boykin - [email protected]
Rep, Boyko - [email protected]
Rep Byrnes - [email protected]
Rep. Gragg - [email protected]
Rep. Hewkin - [email protected]
Rep. Hurlbert - [email protected]
Rep. Jacobs - [email protected]
Rep. Kelley - [email protected]
Rep. Laubinger - [email protected]
Rep. Loy - [email protected]
Rep. Mackey - [email protected]
Rep. Martin - [email protected]
Rep. Meirath - [email protected]
Rep. Overcast - [email protected]
Rep. Pollitt - [email protected]
Rep. Schmidt - [email protected]
Rep. Smith - [email protected]
Rep. Steinmetz - [email protected]
Rep. Williams - [email protected]
SB 63, Non-traditional Student Activities Participation - repeals RSMo 167.042 and includes the sports bill.
Senate Education Committee Hearing on Tuesday, 2/4/2025 at 8:00 am in the 3rd Floor Senate Lounge
Senate Education Committee Members:
Sen. Brattin, Chair – Email Page
Sen. Hudson, Vice Chair – Email Page
Sen. Gregory – Email Page
Sen. Henderson – Email Page
Sen. Nurrenbern – Email Page
Sen. Schroer – Email Page
Sen. Webber – Email Page
HB 737 – Informational Purposes (1/25/2025): While we are NOT sending out any type of alert about HB 737, we did want to keep you updated in case you want to show your support to the Children and Families Committee and ask them to vote yes for this bill. They will be voting on this next week on Tuesday at 8:00 am, which then moves the bill on to the next phase if passed. This bill, while not a home school bill and you do not have to tell them you are a homeschool family, is about protecting ALL parents from abuse and neglect charges for the sole reason of our children going to nearby locations by bicycle or on foot, playing outdoors, or remaining at home for a reasonable period of time without adult supervision.
HB 737 - Page 5, Lines 39-49
Children and Families Committee - click on this link then the committee on the left side of the page.
Rep. Holly Jones, Chair, [email protected]
Rep. Tara Peters, Vice Chair, [email protected]
Rep. Raychel Proudie, Ranking Minority Member, [email protected]
Rep. Mike Costlow, [email protected]
Rep. David Dolan, [email protected]
Rep. Jamie Gragg, [email protected]
Rep. Wendy Hausman, [email protected]
Rep. Ken Jamison, [email protected]
Rep. Ann Kelley, [email protected]
Rep. Cathy Jo Loy, [email protected]
Rep. Marlene Terry, [email protected]
Rep. Terri Violet, [email protected]
Sample email: Dear Rep. ________,
Our family would like to show support for HB 737. Just because a child is at the park near their house or at home alone for a short period of time, does not mean the parents have committed any abuse or neglect. We hope you will vote yes when this bill comes to a vote in your Committee. Thank you for your consideration.
Home School Protections
HB 31 – Modifies provisions relating to home school protections
1. FHE supports HB 31.
2. HB 31 would repeal 167.042, Declaration of Enrollment (letter of intent) which has caused so many problems for home school families across the state, especially when withdrawing their children from the public school.
3. HB 31 also adds language that would require a prosecuting attorney to have probable cause to review home school records.
Sponsor, Rep. Bishop Davidson
Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee
Last Action: Date: 2/5/2025 Time: 12:00 PM or upon adjournment (whichever is later) Location: House Hearing Room 7 -
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current bill version): HB 31 Introduced
Bill Summaries: HB 31 Introduced Summary
Home Schools Participating in Public School Activities
SB 63 - Repeals and establishes provisions relating to participation of certain students in nontraditional educational settings
1. Adds section regarding home school and virtual school students participation in public school activities. FHE is neutral on this portion of the bill.
2. SB 63 would repeal 167.042, Declaration of Enrollment (letter of intent) which has caused so many problems for home school families across the state, especially when withdrawing their children from the public school. FHE supports this portion of the bill.
Sponsor – Senator Ben Brown
Committee - Education
Last Action – 2/4/2025 - Hearing Scheduled S Education Committee at 8:00 am in the 3rd Floor Senate Lounge
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current bill version): SB 63 Introduced
Bill Summaries: SB 63 Introduced Bill Summary
Children and Families
HB 737 - Modifies provisions relating to the protection of children
1.A provision in HB 737 – person does not commit abuse or neglect for thesole reason that a child is allowed an independent activity suce as walking to school or going to the park. (Page 5, lines 39-49)
2. Although HB 737 is not a bill directly related to homeschooling, if is important to many of our members and friends as parents. FHE supports HB 737.
3. The main issue of HB 737 is about benefit money being held by the children’s division for foster children.
4. HB 737 is the same as HB 486
Sponsor: Representative Melissa Schmidt
Committee: Children and Families
Last Action – 01/22/2025 - Public Hearing Completed (H)
Hearing – House Children and Families Committee
Executive Session: 1/28/2025 Time: 8:00AM Location: House Hearing Room 6
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current bill version): HB 737 Introduced
Bill Summaries: HB 737 Introduced Bill Summary
HB 486 - Modifies provisions relating to the protection of children
1. A provision in HB 486 - person does not commit abuse or neglect for the sole reason that a child is allowed an independent activity such as walking to school or going to the park. (Page 5, lines 39-49)
2. Although HB 486 is not a bill directly related to homeschooling, if is important to many of our members and friends as parents. FHE supports HB 486.
3. The main issue of HB 486 is about benefit money being held by the children’s division for foster children.
4. HB 486 is the same as HB 737
HB 486 Bill Page Information Page
Sponsor: Representative Wendy Hausman
Committee: Children and Families
Last Action: 01/16/2025 - Referred: Children and Families(H)
Hearing and Executive Session: 1/28/2025 Time: 8:00AM Location: House Hearing Room 6
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current version: HB 486 Introduced
Bill Summaries: HB 486 Introduced Bill Summary
Tax Credits for Educational Expenses
FHE is opposed to the Tax Credits For a Home School for the Reasons included with each bill.
SB- 53 - Authorizes a tax credit for certain educational expenses
?1.Creates an unintended home school registry.
2. Missouri Department of Revenue is given the responsibility for creating the rules for the program.
3. The Tax Credit is very similar to the ESA
4. Required certification from the local school district that the child was not enrolled in the public school. (Another form of registry for a home school.) Again, the Missouri department of Revenue is tasked with writing the rules for the certification process.
5. Department of Revenue is required to provide Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with any information they need to make the required deductions for the revenue received from the state.
6. This is a refundable tax credit. The taxpayer could receive a refund over and above their tax liability. This is a matter of not just keeping their own money, but receiving government money. Government money always means the government will require accountability and control.
Sponsor – Senator Nick Schroer
Committee: Education
Last Action: 1/16/2025 - Second Read and Referred S Education Committee
Bill Verions (last bill in list is current bill version): SB 53 Introduced
Bill Summaries: SB 53 Bill Summary
SB 195 - Authorizes a tax credit for certain educational expenses
1. Incorrect definition of “Home School” – An FPE School cannot be a Home School because a Home School by Missouri Statute is not an FPE school. RSMO 167.1(5)
2.Creates an unintended home school registry.
3. This is a refundable tax credit. The taxpayer could receive a refund over and above their tax liability. This is a matter of not just keeping their own money but receiving government money. Government money always means the government will require accountability and control.
4. Missouri Department of Revenue is given the responsibility for creating the rules for the program.
5.The Tax Credit is very similar to the ESA.
Sponsor – Senator Rick Brattin
Committee:
Last Action: 1/8/2025 - S First Read
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current bill version): SB 195 Introduced
Bill Summaries: SB 195 Bill Summary
HB 77 - Establishes the "Missouri Parental Choice Tax Credit Act" relating to a tax credit for certain educational expenses
1. Creates an unintended home school registry
2. Missouri Department of Revenue and the Treasurer is given the responsibility for creating the rules for the program.
3. The taxpayer will be required to submit requirements established in the bill, “as well as any other information required by the department, on a form to be developed by the department”. This is very open ended.
4. The Missouri Department of Revenue will be verifying with the state treasurer that the taxpayer is not participating in the MOScholars program. This could created a home school registry with the Treasurer’s office also.
5. This is a refundable tax credit. The taxpayer could receive a refund over and above their tax liability. This is a matter of not just keeping their own money, but receiving government money. Government money always means the government will require accountability and control.
6. The Tax Credit is very similar to the ESA.
Sponsor: Representative Cathy Jo Loy
Committee:
Last Action: 01/09/2025 - Read Second Time (H)
Bill Versions (last bill in list is current bill version): HB 77 Introduced
Bill Summaries: HB 77 Introduced Summary
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!!!
Save the date for our next Homeschool Day at the Capitol, March 4, 2025.
(For more bill information visit www.house.mo.gov or www.senate.mo.gov)
Additional Information
Learn How a Bill Becomes a Law
Understanding Legislative Language
