This week…
Governor Parson signed the $4.6 billion emergency supplemental bill that includes funds for state employee pay raises, federal funds for Missouri’s K-12 schools, and Medicaid expansion. Read more regarding the supplemental budget bill here.
Senator Roy Blunt addressed the Missouri House of Representatives this week, ahead of his retirement, he spoke to several key issues that are important to Missourians. In his speech, he also highlighted some of the accomplishments, research, and innovations that are taking place at UM System campuses. Watch his full speech .
Missouri Senate
Financial Aid
This week, the Senate passed several bills including Senator Lincoln Hough’s Fastrack Workforce Development bill (SB672). The Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant is a financial aid program for those pursuing a certificate, degree, or industry-recognized credential. The grantees must reside and work in Missouri for three years following their graduation. This bill will extend the program until 2029 and will also add eligible apprenticeships. Extending this program is a priority for Governor Parson, who would like to see it permanently established.
Higher Education Funding
On Tuesday, the Senate Appropriations committee met to hear testimony regarding the proposed budget for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.
Diploma Program
The Senate Education committee held a hearing this week on Senator Lauren Arthur’s Senate Bill 660, which would establish the “Show Me Success Diploma Program”. This program would be create an alternative pathway to graduation for high school students for eligible students at the end of tenth grade. Those who get this diploma may enroll in a postsecondary educational institution that qualified. For each student enrolled in such an institution, an amount equal 90% of the pupil's proportionate share of the state, local, and federal aid that the district or charter school receives for such student shall be deposited into a higher education savings account that lists the student as the beneficiary. The bill also established a competency-based educational grant program and task-force and establishes provisions regarding competency-based high school credits.
Medical Student Loans
The Senate Health and Pensions Committee held a hearing this week regarding Senator Bill White’s Senate Bill 757, which makes changes to medical student loan program administered by the Department of Health and Senior Services by adding psychiatry, dental surgery, dental medicine, or dental hygiene students to the list of eligible students in the program. This bill also changes the amount of the loan that students may be eligible to receive from $7,500 each academic year to $25,000 each academic year. The bill also makes changes to the Nursing Student Loan Program by changing the available assistance for students from $5,000 each year for professional nursing programs to $10,000 each year.
Animal Research
Senator Doug Beck has introduced Senate Bill 979, which would require colleges and universities for conduct animal research to post on their website a report on such animal research prior to December 31st of year. The report shall include the amount of funds used for animal research, a list of active animal research projects, a review of compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, number of animals adopted out to animal shelters and the number of animals euthanized, and all efforts done by the university to reduce or replace the use of animals in research. This bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources.
Flood Resiliency
Senator Dan Hegeman has introduced Senate Bill 984, the “Flood Resiliency Act”, which shall be a flood resiliency program administered by the Department of Natural Resources to increase flood resiliency along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries and to improve statewide flood forecasting and monitoring ability. This b