Bill > HB419

This bill makes several significant changes across various areas of education and public safety in Missouri. It establishes a new Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act, which creates tuition awards for public safety personnel (such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians) and their legal dependents who have at least six to ten years of service, respectively. These tuition awards can cover up to 100% of tuition at public or private institutions for eligible individuals pursuing specific degree programs related to their professional fields. The bill also modifies provisions for military personnel and veterans, including resident tuition status for military personnel and their families, and a boots-to-business program for veteran-owned small businesses. Additionally, the legislation makes changes to higher education governance, such as allowing Missouri State University to grant additional doctoral degrees and expanding the degree-granting capabilities of state colleges. The bill also updates the state's loan repayment program for health professionals, renaming it the Missouri State Loan Repayment Program and broadening its scope to include more types of healthcare professionals. These changes aim to support public safety workers, veterans, and students by providing educational opportunities and financial assistance.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Military Affairs and Security

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB419&year=2025&code=R