Bill > HB3196

This bill establishes a new program in Missouri that requires employers with ten or more employees to provide paid leave for parents to attend school-related activities for their children. "Child" is defined broadly to include biological, adopted, foster, or any child for whom the employee acts as a parent, as long as they are enrolled in a licensed daycare, early childhood program, or school. A "school-related activity" is any event initiated by the child's school or childcare provider to discuss their education, development, behavior, or well-being, such as conferences, meetings, or academic support sessions. Under this bill, each employee would be entitled to a minimum of two hours of paid leave per calendar month, paid at their regular rate, which cannot be deducted from other accrued leave like sick or vacation time, and can be taken in 30-minute increments, but does not carry over to the next month. Employees must give advance notice unless the activity is unforeseen, and employers can request verification of attendance. The bill also prohibits employers from preventing employees from using this leave or retaliating against them for doing so, with the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations responsible for enforcement and potential penalties of up to $500 per violation for willful non-compliance. Importantly, this new provision does not override any more generous leave benefits already provided by collective bargaining agreements, employer policies, or other laws.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3196&year=2026&code=R