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HB 2891

Missouri HouseIntroduced

Summary

HB 2891, which modifies provisions governing candidate filing location for nonpartisan elections, was introduced in the House on Jan 8, 2026 by Rep. Jamie Gragg (R). It was referred to Emerging Issues, and last saw action on May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H).


Record

Text

HB 2891 has no co-sponsors and has not gone to a roll call.

hb2891/introduced.txt
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 2891
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE GRAGG.
6574H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal sections 115.124, 162.491, 162.492, 162.563, 162.860, 162.910, 178.820, 178.840,
190.050, 198.280, 206.090, 247.217, 249.140, 257.170, 321.130, and 321.210, RSMo,
and to enact in lieu thereof sixteen new sections relating to candidate filing location.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 115.124, 162.491, 162.492, 162.563, 162.860, 162.910, 178.820,
178.840, 190.050, 198.280, 206.090, 247.217, 249.140, 257.170, 321.130, and 321.210,
RSMo, are repealed and sixteen new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections
115.124, 162.491, 162.492, 162.563, 162.860, 162.910, 178.820, 178.840, 190.050, 198.280,
206.090, 247.217, 249.140, 257.170, 321.130, and 321.210, to read as follows:
115.124. 1. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, in a nonpartisan election
in any political subdivision or special district including municipal elections in any city, town,
or village with two thousand or fewer inhabitants that have adopted a proposal pursuant to
subsection 3 of this section but excluding municipal elections in any city, town, or village
with more than two thousand inhabitants, if the notice provided for in subsection 5 of section
115.127 has been published in at least one newspaper of general circulation as defined in
section 493.050 in the district, and if the number of candidates for each office in a particular
political subdivision, special district, or municipality is equal to the number of positions for
each office within the political subdivision, special district, or municipality to be filled by the
election and no ballot measure is placed on the ballot such that a particular political
subdivision will owe no proportional elections costs if an election is not held, no election
shall be held, and the candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same
time and in the same manner as if they had been elected. If no election is held for a particular
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
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political subdivision, special district, or municipality as provided in this section, the election
authority shall publish a notice containing the names of the candidates that shall assume the
responsibilities of office under this section. Such notice shall be published in at least one
newspaper of general circulation as defined in section 493.050 in such political subdivision or
district by the first of the month in which the election would have occurred, had it been
contested. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if at any election the
number of candidates filing for a particular office exceeds the number of positions to be filled
at such election, the election authority shall hold the election as scheduled, even if a sufficient
number of candidates withdraw from such contest for that office so that the number of
candidates remaining after the filing deadline is equal to the number of positions to be filled.
2. The election authority [or political subdivision] responsible for the oversight of the
filing of candidates in any nonpartisan election in any political subdivision or special district
shall clearly designate where candidates shall form a line to effectuate such filings and
determine the order of such filings; except that, in the case of candidates who file a
declaration of candidacy with the election authority [or political subdivision] prior to 5:00
p.m. on the first day for filing, the election authority [or political subdivision may] shall
determine by random drawing the order in which such candidates' names shall appear on the
ballot. [If a] Such drawing [is conducted pursuant to this subsection, it] shall be conducted so
that each candidate, or candidate's representative if the candidate filed under subsection 2 of
section 115.355, may draw a number at random at the time of filing. [If such drawing is
conducted,] The election authority [or political subdivision] shall record the number drawn
with the candidate's declaration of candidacy. [If such drawing is conducted,] The names of
candidates filing on the first day of filing for each office on each ballot shall be listed in
ascending order of the numbers so drawn.
3. The governing body of any city, town, or village with two thousand or fewer
inhabitants may submit to the voters at any available election, a question to adopt the
provisions of subsection 1 of this section for municipal elections. If a majority of the votes
cast by the qualified voters voting thereon are in favor of the question, then the city, town, or
village shall conduct nonpartisan municipal elections as provided in subsection 1 of this
section for all nonpartisan elections remaining in the year in which the proposal was adopted
and for the six calendar years immediately following such approval. At the end of such six-
year period, each such city, town, or village shall be prohibited from conducting such
elections in such a manner unless such a question is again adopted by the majority of
qualified voters as provided in this subsection.
4. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
appropriate election authority for all nonpartisan elections conducted in a political
subdivision or special district as described in this section shall be the election authority
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as established in section 115.015 for the city or county, as applicable, in which such
political subdivision or special district is located.
(2) For a nonpartisan election for a political subdivision or special district
located within the jurisdiction of more than one election authority, the election authority
of the jurisdiction with the greatest proportion of the political subdivision's or special
district's registered voters shall be the appropriate election authority and subsections 2
and 3 of section 115.023 shall apply.
162.491. 1. Directors for urban school districts, other than those districts containing
the greater part of a city of over one hundred thirty thousand inhabitants, may be nominated
by petition to be filed with the [secretary of the board] appropriate election authority and
signed by a number of voters in the district equal to ten percent of the total number of votes
cast for the director receiving the highest number of votes cast at the next preceding biennial
election, except as provided in subsection 4 of this section.
2. This section shall not be construed as providing the sole method of nominating
candidates for the office of school director in urban school districts that do not contain the
greater part of a city of over three hundred thousand inhabitants.
3. A director for any urban school district containing a city of greater than one
hundred thirty thousand inhabitants and less than three hundred thousand inhabitants may be
nominated as an independent candidate by filing with the [secretary of the board]
appropriate election authority a petition signed by five hundred registered voters of such
school district.
4. In any urban school district located in a county of the first classification with more
than eighty-three thousand but fewer than ninety-two thousand inhabitants and with a home
rule city with more than seventy-six thousand but fewer than ninety-one thousand inhabitants
as the county seat, a candidate for director shall file a declaration of candidacy with the
[secretary of the board] appropriate election authority and shall not be required to submit a
petition.
5. No candidate for election as a school board director representing a subdistrict as
provided in section 162.563 shall be required to file a declaration of candidacy as provided in
this section as the sole method of filing for candidacy.
162.492. 1. In all urban districts containing the greater part of the population of a city
which has more than three hundred thousand inhabitants, the election authority of the city in
which the greater portion of the school district lies, and of the county if the district includes
territory not within the city limits, shall serve ex officio as a redistricting commission. The
commission shall on or before November 1, 2018, divide the school district into five
subdistricts, all subdistricts being of compact and contiguous territory and as nearly equal in
the number of inhabitants as practicable and thereafter the board shall redistrict the district
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into subdivisions as soon as practicable after each United States decennial census. In
establishing the subdistricts each member shall have one vote and a majority vote of the total
membership of the commission is required to make effective any action of the commission.
2. School elections for the election of directors shall be held on municipal election
days in 2014 and 2016. At the election in 2014, directors shall be elected to hold office until
2019 and until their successors are elected and qualified. At the election in 2016, directors
shall be elected until 2019 and until their successors are elected and qualified. Beginning in
2019, school elections for the election of directors shall be held on the local election date as
specified in the charter of a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants
and located in more than one county. Beginning at the election for school directors in 2019,
the number of directors on the board shall be reduced from nine to seven. Two directors shall
be at-large directors and five directors shall represent the subdistricts, with one director from
each of the subdistricts. At the 2019 election, one of the at-large directors and the directors
from subdistricts one, three, and five shall be elected for a two-year term, and the other at-
large director and the directors from subdistricts two and four shall be elected for a four-year
term. Thereafter, all seven directors shall serve a four-year term. Directors shall serve until
the next election and until their successors, then elected, are duly qualified as provided in this
section. In addition to other qualifications prescribed by law, each member elected from a
subdistrict shall be a resident of the subdistrict from which he or she is elected. The
subdistricts shall be numbered from one to five.
3. The five candidates, one from each of the subdistricts, who receive a plurality of
the votes cast by the voters of that subdistrict and the at-large candidates receiving a plurality
of the at-large votes shall be elected. The name of no candidate for nomination shall be
printed on the ballot unless the candidate has at least sixty days prior to the election filed a
declaration of candidacy with the [secretary of the board of directors] appropriate election
authority containing the signatures of at least two hundred fifty registered voters who are
residents of the subdistrict within which the candidate for nomination to a subdistrict office
resides, and in case of at-large candidates the signatures of at least five hundred registered
voters. The election authority shall determine the validity of all signatures on declarations of
candidacy.
4. In any election either for at-large candidates or candidates elected by the voters of
subdistricts, if there are more than two candidates, a majority of the votes are not required to
elect but the candidate having a plurality of the votes shall be elected.
5. The names of all candidates shall appear upon the ballot without party designation
and in the order of the priority [of the times of filing their petitions of nomination] as
established in section 115.124. No candidate may file both at large and from a subdistrict
and the names of all candidates shall appear only once on the ballot, nor may any candidate
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file more than one declaration of candidacy. All declarations shall designate the candidate's
residence and whether the candidate is filing at large or from a subdistrict and the numerical
designation of the subdistrict or at-large area.
6. The provisions of all sections relating to seven-director school districts shall also
apply to and govern urban districts in cities of more than three hundred thousand inhabitants,
to the extent applicable and not in conflict with the provisions of those sections specifically
relating to such urban districts.
7. Vacancies which occur on the school board shall be filled in the manner provided
in section 162.471.
162.563. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "School board", the board vested with the government and control of a school
district as described in section 162.261 or section 162.471;
(2) "School district", a seven-director school district or an urban school district
established in this chapter.
2. A school board may divide the school district into seven subdistricts or a
combination of subdistricts and at-large districts and establish the election of school board
members as provided in this section.
3. (1) A school board desiring to divide a school district as provided in this section
shall vote on the question of dividing the district as provided in this section. Upon the
approval of the question by at least four members of the school board, the school board shall
develop a proposed plan as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(2) A school board dividing a school district as provided in this section shall develop
and adopt a proposed plan for the division of the school district. Such proposed plan shall be
adopted upon the approval of at least four members of the school board and shall contain at
least the following information:
(a) A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the school district;
(b) A statement indicating whether the school district will be divided into seven
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts;
(c) A description of the areas of the school district each newly elected school board
member will represent, with each subdistrict and at-large district represented by a number;
(d) A statement indicating whether the existing school board members will be
replaced by the newly elected school board members at one election or in succeeding
elections to provide for staggered terms of the members; and
(e) Any other information deemed necessary by the school board.
(3) After the school board develops such proposed plan, the school board shall
immediately notify the election authority of the county in which the school district is located.
Upon receiving such notification, the election authority shall submit the question of whether
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to divide the school district as described in the proposed plan to the voters of the school
district on the next available day for any municipal election. If a majority of the registered
voters of the school district voting on the question approve the division of the school district,
the school board shall follow the procedures described in subsection 4 of this section. If a
majority of the registered voters of the school district voting on the question reject the
division of the school district, no division as described in this section shall occur.
4. (1) After approval of a question submitted under subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of
this section, a school board dividing a school district as provided in this section shall adopt a
final plan for the division of the school district based on the proposed plan developed under
subsection 3 of this section. Such final plan shall contain at least the following information:
(a) A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the school district;
(b) The time and place of at least two public hearings to be held to consider the
proposed plan;
(c) A statement indicating whether the school district will be divided into seven
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts;
(d) A description of the areas of the school district each newly elected school board
member will represent, with each subdistrict and at-large district represented by a number;
(e) A statement indicating whether the existing school board members will be
replaced by the newly elected school board members at one election or in succeeding
elections to provide for staggered terms of the members; and
(f) Any other information deemed necessary by the school board.
(2) For each hearing held as provided in this subsection, the school board shall:
(a) Publish notice of the hearing, the proposed plan, and any amendments to the
proposed plan adopted at a previous hearing on the school district's website and by any other
method allowed by law, with the first publication to occur no more than thirty days before the
hearing and the second publication to occur no earlier than fifteen days and no later than ten
days before the hearing;
(b) Hear all alternate proposals for division of the school district and receive evidence
for or against such alternate proposals;
(c) Hear all protests and receive evidence for or against such proposed division;
(d) Vote on each alternate proposal and protest, which vote shall be the final
determination of such alternate proposal or protest;
(e) Adopt any amendments to the proposed plan; and
(f) Perform any other actions related to the proposed plan deemed necessary by the
school board.
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(3) (a) After the conclusion of the final hearing proceedings but before adjourning
such hearing, the school board shall adopt the final plan to divide the school district
developed as a result of the hearings.
(b) After the school board adopts the final plan, the school board shall present the
final plan to the election authority of the county in which the school district is located for
actions required under subdivision (4) of this subsection and publish the final plan in the same
manner as the initial proposed plan was published under paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of
this subsection. The final plan shall contain at least the following information:
a. A summary of the final plan for dividing the school district;
b. A statement indicating whether the school district will be divided into seven
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts;
c. A description of the areas of the school district each newly elected school board
member will represent, with each subdistrict and at-large district represented by a number;
d. The date of the election of each new school board member as provided in the final
plan;
e. A statement indicating whether the existing school board members will be replaced
by the newly elected school board members at one election or in succeeding elections to
provide for staggered terms of the members; and
f. Any other information deemed necessary by the school board.
(4) (a) After a final plan is adopted as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection,
before December first of the calendar year immediately preceding the general municipal
election day in the calendar year in which the residents of the school district will vote to elect
new school board members as provided in the final plan, the school board shall divide the
school district into seven subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts as
directed in the final plan. All subdistricts required by the final plan shall be of contiguous and
compact territory and as nearly equal in population as practicable in accordance with the final
plan. Within six months after each decennial census is reported to the President of the United
States, the school board shall reapportion the subdistricts to be as nearly equal in population
as practicable. After the school board divides the school district or reapportions the
subdistricts, the school board shall notify the residents of the school district as provided by
law.
(b) Any resident of the school district who believes the school board has divided the
school district or reapportioned subdistricts in violation of paragraph (a) of this subdivision
may petition the circuit court of the county in which the school district exists for an order
directing the school board to divide the school district or reapportion the subdistricts as
provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision. The petition shall be submitted to the circuit
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court within ten business days of the school board's notice required in paragraph (a) of this
subdivision.
(5) On the first day available for candidate filing for the first general municipal
election occurring after the school district is divided as provided in this subsection, any
qualified resident who has or will have resided in a subdistrict or at-large district for the year
immediately preceding the general municipal election day may file as a candidate for election
to the school board as a member representing such subdistrict or at-large district. At the end
of the time available for candidate filing, if no qualified resident of a subdistrict has filed as a
candidate in that subdistrict, the election authority shall extend the time for candidate filing
by seven additional days, and any qualified resident of the school district who has or will have
resided in the school district for the year immediately preceding the general municipal
election day may file with the appropriate election authority as a candidate for election to
the school board as a member representing that subdistrict. No [school district shall require a]
candidate shall be required to submit a petition signed by the registered voters of the school
district as a method of filing a declaration of candidacy. The election authority shall
determine the validity of all declarations of candidacy.
(6) When the election is held on the general municipal election day, the seven
candidates, one from each of the subdistricts or at-large districts, who receive a plurality of
the votes cast by the voters of that subdistrict or at-large district shall be elected. Any
candidate who is not a subdistrict resident but qualifies as a candidate as a school district
resident as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection shall be elected by the voters of the
school district. Each member shall be elected to a term as provided in the final plan adopted
as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection.
(7) Each member shall serve until a successor is elected or the member vacates the
office. Any vacancy that occurs before the end of the member's term shall be filled as
provided in section 162.261 or 162.471.
(8) Except for a member who is not a subdistrict resident but is elected as a school
district resident to represent a subdistrict as provided in subdivision (5) of this subsection,
each member shall reside in the subdistrict the member represents during the member's term.
(9) All other provisions applicable to school districts that are not in conflict with this
subsection shall apply to school districts divided as provided in this subsection.
5. (1) If any school district receives a petition, signed by at least ten percent of the
number of registered voters of the school district voting in the last school board election,
calling for the school district to divide into seven subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts
and at-large districts and establish the election of school board members as provided in this
subsection, the school district shall immediately notify the election authority of the county in
which the school district is located. Upon receiving such notification, the election authority
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shall submit the question of whether to divide the school district as provided by the petition to
the voters of the school district on the next available day for any municipal election. If a
majority of the registered voters of the school district voting on the question approve the
division of the school district, the school board shall begin the process of adopting the plan as
described in this subsection. If a majority of the registered voters of the school district voting
on the question reject the division of the school district, no division as described in the
petition shall occur.
(2) (a) Any such petition submitted to the school district as provided in this
subsection shall contain a proposed plan for the division of the school district. Such proposed
plan shall contain at least the following information:
a. A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the school district;
b. A statement indicating whether the school district will be divided into seven
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts;
c. A description of the areas of the school district each newly elected school board
member will represent, with each subdistrict and at-large district represented by a number;
d. The proposed date of the election of each new school board member as provided in
the proposed plan;
e. A statement indicating whether the existing school board members will be replaced
by the newly elected school board members at one election or in succeeding elections to
provide for staggered terms of the members; and
f. Any other information deemed necessary by the school board.
(b) If a division of the school district is approved by the voters as provided in
subdivision (1) of this subsection, the school board shall create a school district division
commission to develop a final plan for division of the school district. The commission shall:
a. Be composed of nine members as follows:
(i) Three members appointed by the superintendent of the school district;
(ii) Three members appointed by the county commission; and
(iii) Three members appointed by the organizers of the petition to divide the school
district; and
b. Set the time and place of at least two hearings to be held to consider the proposed
plan. For each hearing held, the commission shall:
(i) Publish notice of the hearing, the proposed plan, and any amendments to the
proposed plan adopted at a previous hearing on the school district's website and by any other
method allowed by law, with the first publication to occur no more than thirty days before the
hearing and the second publication to occur no earlier than fifteen days and no later than ten
days before the hearing;
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(ii) Conduct the hearing on the proposal for division of the district on behalf of the
petitioners;
(iii) Hear all protests and receive evidence for or against such proposed division; and
(iv) Vote to adopt any proposed plan amendments agreed to by the petitioners as a
result of the hearings.
(c) Within ninety days after the adjournment of the final hearing conducted as
provided in this subdivision, the commission shall submit the final plan to the election
authority of the county in which the school district is located for actions required in
subdivision (3) of this subsection and publish the final plan in the same manner as the initial
proposed plan was published as provided in item (i) of subparagraph b. of paragraph (b) of
this subdivision. The final plan shall contain at least the following information:
a. A summary of the final plan for dividing the school district;
b. A statement indicating whether the school district will be divided into seven
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at-large districts;
c. A description of the areas of the school district each newly elected school board
member will represent, with each subdistrict and at-large district represented by a number;
d. The date of the election of each new school board member as provided in the final
plan;
e. A statement indicating whether the existing school board members will be replaced
by the newly elected school board members at one election or in succeeding elections to
provide for staggered terms of the members; and
f. Any other information deemed necessary by the commission.
(3) (a) After a final plan is submitted to the election authority as provided in
subdivision (2) of this subsection, before December first of the calendar year immediately
preceding the general municipal election day in the calendar year in which the residents of the
school district will vote to elect new school board members as provided in the final plan, the
school district division commission shall divide the school district into seven subdistricts or a
combination of subdistricts and at-large districts as directed in the final plan. All subdistricts
required by the final plan shall be of contiguous and compact territory and as nearly equal in
population as practicable in accordance with the final plan. Within six months after each
decennial census is reported to the President of the United States, the commission shall
reapportion the subdistricts to be as nearly equal in population as practicable. After the
commission divides the school district or reapportions the subdistricts, the commission shall
notify the residents of the school district as provided by law.
(b) Any resident of the school district who believes the school district division
commission has divided the school district or reapportioned subdistricts in violation of
paragraph (a) of this subdivision may petition the circuit court of the county in which the
HB 2891 11
school district exists for an order directing the commission to divide the school district or
reapportion the subdistricts as provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision. The petition
shall be submitted to the circuit court within ten business days of the commission's notice
provided in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
(4) On the first day available for candidate filing for the first general municipal
election occurring after the school district is divided as provided in this subsection, any
qualified resident who has or will have resided in a subdistrict or at-large district for the year
immediately preceding the general municipal election day may file as a candidate for election
to the school board as a member representing such subdistrict or at-large district. At the end
of the time available for candidate filing, if no qualified resident of a subdistrict has filed as a
candidate in that subdistrict, the election authority shall extend the time for candidate filing
by seven additional days, and any qualified resident of the school district who has or will have
resided in the school district for the year immediately preceding the general municipal
election day may file with the appropriate election authority as a candidate for election to
the school board as a member representing that subdistrict. No [school district shall require a]
candidate shall be required to submit a petition signed by the registered voters of the school
district as a method of filing a declaration of candidacy. The election authority shall
determine the validity of all declarations of candidacy.
(5) When the election is held on the general municipal election day, the seven
candidates, one from each of the subdistricts or at-large districts, who receive a plurality of
the votes cast by the voters of that subdistrict shall be elected. Any candidate who is not a
subdistrict resident but qualifies as a candidate as a school district resident as provided in
subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be elected by the voters of the school district. Each
member shall be elected to a term as provided in the final plan approved as provided in
subdivision (2) of this subsection.
(6) Each member shall serve until a successor is elected or the member vacates the
office. Any vacancy that occurs before the end of the member's term shall be filled as
provided in section 162.261 or 162.471.
(7) Except for a member who is not a subdistrict resident but is elected as a school
district resident to represent a subdistrict as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection,
each member shall reside in the subdistrict the member represents during the member's term.
(8) All other provisions applicable to school districts that are not in conflict with this
subsection shall apply to school districts divided as provided in this subsection.
6. No new plan for division of the school district shall be proposed or adopted as
provided in this section sooner than five years after a division of the school district as
provided in this section.
HB 2891 12
162.860. Candidates for membership on the board of education of a special school
district with a population of not more than one hundred thousand persons shall be citizens of
the United States and voters of the proposed district who have resided within the state for one
year next preceding the election and who are at least twenty-four years of age. All candidates
shall file their declarations of candidacy with the [secretary of the state board of education]
appropriate election authority.
162.910. At the elections conducted pursuant to section 162.865, the voters of a
special district with a population of not more than one hundred thousand persons shall elect,
by ballot, two board members to succeed those whose terms have expired and the board
members so elected shall hold office for terms of three years and until their successors have
been elected and qualified and shall assume the duties of their offices at the first regular
meeting of the board of education held after their election. Candidates shall file their
declarations of candidacy for office of board member with the [secretary of the board of
education] appropriate election authority of the special school district. [A majority of the
then qualified members of the board of education of the special school district] The
appropriate election authority shall certify the candidates receiving the greatest number of
votes for terms of three years each and until their successors shall have been elected and
qualified, and shall declare and certify the results of the vote cast on any question presented at
the election.
178.820. 1. In the organization election, six trustees shall be elected at large
throughout the entire proposed district. The two candidates receiving the greatest number of
votes shall be elected for terms of six years each, the two receiving the next greatest number
of votes for terms of four years each, the two receiving the next greatest number of votes for
terms of two years each, and such terms shall be effective until the first Tuesday in April
coinciding with or next following such period of years, or until the successors to such trustees
have been duly elected and qualified. Thereafter, the trustees shall be elected for terms of six
years each.
2. Following the initial election, the board of trustees may, at any duly called meeting,
adopt a resolution calling for the formation of a redistricting committee to consider the
formation of subdistricts within the community college district from which trustees are
thereafter to be elected. Upon adoption of any such resolution, the secretary of the board of
trustees shall forward a certified copy thereof to the coordinating board for higher education
with the request that a redistricting committee be appointed in order to divide the community
college districts into at least two and not more than six subdistricts for the purpose of electing
trustees. The redistricting committee shall consist of three residents within the affected
district, appointed by the board of trustees of the affected district, plus three additional
persons who are residents within the affected district, appointed by the coordinating board for
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higher education. Thereafter, the redistricting committee shall meet, organize itself with a
[chairman] chair and secretary, and proceed with the adoption of a redistricting plan
specifying at least two but not more than six subdistricts which are to the extent possible so
apportioned on the basis of population that the population of any such subdistrict divided by
the number of trustees to be selected therefrom substantially equals the population of any
other subdistrict divided by the number of trustees to be selected therefrom. The redistricting
plan referred to herein, in lieu of requiring all trustees to be elected from subdistricts, may
provide for the election of one or more trustees at large and the remainder from subdistricts,
or for the election of all the trustees at large with the requirement that each must reside in a
certain subdistrict, so long as in any plan adopted, subdistricts are apportioned as provided
above. Notwithstanding the above, the board of trustees of any community college district
which contains more than four hundred fifty thousand residents shall, at the first duly called
meeting following August 13, 1972, and thereafter within ninety days following the
publication of the decennial census figures, adopt a resolution calling for the formation of a
redistricting committee; and the redistricting committee shall adopt a redistricting plan
specifying the establishment of not less than four nor more than six subdistricts compact and
contiguous in territory and apportioned as provided above.
3. In any district which shall contain a city not within a county, if four subdistricts are
established, then at least one subdistrict shall be within said city, and if five or six subdistricts
are established, then at least two subdistricts shall be within said city.
4. Any person running for election as a trustee of a subdistrict shall be domiciled and
a resident therein. Any plan proposed to be adopted must receive approval of a majority of
the whole redistricting committee. Upon adoption the redistricting committee shall forward a
copy of the plan certified by the secretary to the coordinating board for higher education for
its approval or disapproval. The coordinating board for higher education shall approve any
redistricting plan in which the population of any subdistrict divided by the number of trustees
to be selected therefrom substantially equals the population of any other subdistrict divided
by the number of trustees to be elected therefrom. Upon approval, the redistricting plan shall
become effective and all trustees elected thereafter shall be required to be elected from
subdistricts in which they are resident. If the plan is not approved, then it shall be returned to
the redistricting committee for revision and resubmission. Until approval of a plan by the
coordinating board for higher education, trustees of a district shall continue to run at large.
Upon approval of any plan, the board of trustees shall determine by resolution the assignment
of trustees to subdistricts. Any such assignment shall not affect the term of office of any such
trustee. Once a district has been divided into subdistricts in accordance with the provisions
hereof, it shall remain so divided until one year following the publication of the decennial
census figures, by which date a new plan shall have been adopted or the trustees shall again
HB 2891 14
be required to run in the district at large; provided, however, that if during the period between
publications of decennial census figures the area of a district is increased or decreased, a new
plan shall be adopted within one year thereafter or the trustees shall be required to run in the
district at large. No member of the redistricting committee shall serve on the board of trustees
for a period of six years following [his] such member's service on the redistricting
committee.
5. Candidates for the office of trustee shall be citizens of the United States, at least
twenty-one years of age, who have been voters of the district for at least one whole year
preceding the election, and if trustees are elected other than at large they shall be voters of the
subdistricts for at least one whole year next preceding the election. All candidates for the first
board of a district shall file their declaration of candidacy with the [coordinating board for
higher education] appropriate election authority.
6. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or any other law to the contrary, the
board of trustees of the community college district in any district that contains a city not
within a county shall be composed of seven members, six of whom shall each be elected to a
six-year term, and one at-large member who shall be appointed to a six-year term by the
coordinating board for higher education, beginning with the board election occurring
immediately after August 28, 2015, subject to the following procedures:
(1) The appointed member shall be a citizen of the United States, at least twenty-one
years of age, and a registered voter of the district for at least one year preceding the
appointment;
(2) No member, elected or appointed, shall be an employee of such community
college district;
(3) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the appointed member's seat due to death,
resignation, removal from the district, or by operation of law or otherwise, the coordinating
board for higher education shall, in a like manner, appoint a competent person to fill such
vacancy and shall communicate his or her action to the board secretary of the district. Such
appointed member shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term;
(4) If a board member is found by unanimous vote of the other board members to
have moved his or her residence to a district other than the district from which such board
member was appointed or elected, or to have violated a duly promulgated bylaw of the
district, then the office of such board member shall be vacant;
(5) The board shall have the power to make such bylaws or ordinances, rules, and
regulations as it may judge most expedient for the accomplishment of the trust reposed in it,
for the government of its officers and employees, to secure its accountability, and to delegate
its authority as it may deem necessary to such officers and employees or to committees
appointed by the board;
HB 2891 15
(6) Except as specifically provided in this section, the appointment or election and
94 term of office for members of the board, and all other duties and responsibilities of the board,
95 shall comply with the provisions of state law regarding trustees of community college
96 districts.
178.840. 1. After organization, the voters of the community college district shall vote
2 for trustees and on all other propositions provided by law for submission at school elections
3 which are applicable to community college districts. Regular elections in community college
4 districts shall be held on municipal election days in the years in which trustees are to be
5 elected or propositions must be voted upon.
2. If trustees are elected other than at large throughout the entire district, then only
7 those voters within the subdistrict from which the trustee or trustees are to be elected shall
8 cast their ballots for the trustee or trustees from that subdistrict. All candidates for the office
9 of trustee shall file their declarations of candidacy with the [secretary of the board of trustees]
10 appropriate election authority.
3. [A majority of the then qualified members of the board of trustees] The
12 appropriate election authority shall declare and certify the candidates receiving the greatest
13 number of votes for terms of six years each and until their successors are elected and qualified
14 and shall declare and certify the results of the votes cast on any question presented at the
15 election.
190.050. 1. After the ambulance district has been declared organized, the declaring
2 county commission, except in counties of the second class having more than one hundred five
3 thousand inhabitants located adjacent to a county of the first class having a charter form of
4 government which has a population of over nine hundred thousand inhabitants, shall divide
5 the district into six election districts as equal in population as possible, and shall by lot
6 number the districts from one to six inclusive. The county commission shall cause an election
7 to be held in the ambulance district within ninety days after the order establishing the
8 ambulance district to elect ambulance district directors. Each voter shall vote for one director
9 from the ambulance election district in which the voter resides. The directors elected from
10 districts one and four shall serve for a term of one year, the directors elected from districts
11 two and five shall serve for a term of two years, and the directors from districts three and six
12 shall serve for a term of three years; thereafter, the terms of all directors shall be three years.
13 All directors shall serve the term to which they were elected or appointed, and until their
14 successors are elected and qualified, except in cases of resignation or disqualification. The
15 county commission shall reapportion the ambulance districts within sixty days after the
16 population of the county is reported to the governor for each decennial census of the United
17 States. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the number of candidates for the office
18 of director is no greater than the number of directors to be elected, no election shall be held,
HB 2891 16
and the candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same time and in the
same manner as if they have been elected.
2. In all counties of the second class having more than one hundred five thousand
inhabitants located adjacent to a county of the first class having a charter form of government
which has a population of over nine hundred thousand inhabitants, the voters shall vote for six
directors elected at large from within the district for a term of three years. Those directors
holding office in any district in such a county on August 13, 1976, shall continue to hold
office until the expiration of their terms, and their successors shall be elected from the district
at large for a term of three years. In any district formed in such counties after August 13,
1976, the governing body of the county shall cause an election to be held in that district
within ninety days after the order establishing the ambulance district to elect ambulance
district directors. Each voter shall vote for six directors. The two candidates receiving the
highest number of votes at such election shall be elected for a term of three years, the two
candidates receiving the third and fourth highest number of votes shall be elected for a term of
two years, the two candidates receiving the fifth and sixth highest number of votes shall be
elected for a term of one year; thereafter, the term of all directors shall be three years.
3. A candidate for director of the ambulance district shall, at the time of filing, be a
citizen of the United States, a qualified voter of the election district as provided in subsection
1 of this section, a resident of the district for two years next preceding the election, and shall
be at least twenty-four years of age. [In an established district which is located within the
jurisdiction of more than one election authority, the candidate shall file his or her declaration
of candidacy with the secretary of the board. In all other districts, a] Each candidate shall file
a declaration of candidacy with the [county clerk of the county in which he or she resides]
appropriate election authority. A candidate shall file a statement under oath that he or she
possesses the required qualifications. No candidate's name shall be printed on any official
ballot unless the candidate has filed a written declaration of candidacy pursuant to subsection
5 of section 115.127. If the time between the county commission's call for a special election
and the date of the election is not sufficient to allow compliance with subsection 5 of section
115.127, the county commission shall, at the time it calls the special election, set the closing
date for filing declarations of candidacy.
198.280. 1. After the nursing home district has been declared organized, the
declaring county commission shall either:
(1) Divide the district into six election districts as equal in population as possible, and
shall by lot number the districts from one to six, inclusive. The county commission shall
cause an election to be held in the nursing home district within ninety days after the order
establishing the nursing home district to elect nursing home district directors. The election
HB 2891 17
shall be called, held and conducted and notice shall be given as provided in sections 198.240
to 198.270, and each voter shall vote for the director from his or her district; or
(2) Cause an election to be held in the nursing home district within ninety days after
the order establishing the nursing home district to elect six at-large nursing home district
directors. The election shall be called, held and conducted and notice shall be given as
provided in sections 198.240 to 198.270.
After August 28, 1994, directors shall be elected for a term of three years. The first director
whose term expires after August 28, 1994, shall continue to hold office until the expiration of
the term of the second director whose term expires after August 28, 1994, at which time both
such directors shall be elected for a term of three years. The third director whose term expires
after August 28, 1994, shall continue to hold office until the expiration of the term of the
fourth director whose term expires after August 28, 1994, at which time both such directors
shall be elected for a term of three years. The fifth director whose term expires after August
28, 1994, shall continue to hold office until the expiration of the term of the sixth director
whose term expires after August 28, 1994, at which time both such directors shall be elected
for a term of three years. All directors shall serve until their successors are elected and
qualified. If a vacancy occurs, the board shall select a successor who shall serve until the next
regular election of a director is to be held in that nursing home or election district. If no
candidate files a declaration of candidacy for a nursing home or election district, a majority of
the board of directors may, after the election in that nursing home or election district would
have regularly been held, appoint any resident of the nursing home district who otherwise
qualifies pursuant to subsection 3 of this section to fill that vacancy.
2. Following the initial election establishing the nursing home district board of
directors pursuant to subsection 1 of this section, the circuit court may choose to elect the
board of directors at large.
3. Candidates for director of the nursing home district shall be citizens of the United
States, resident taxpayers of the nursing home district who have resided within the state for
one year next preceding the election and who are at least twenty-four years of age. All
candidates shall file their declarations of candidacy with the [county commission calling the
election] appropriate election authority at least twenty days prior to the special election.
4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, if the number of
candidates for the office of director is equal to the number of directors to be elected, no
election shall be held, and the candidates shall assume the responsibility of their offices at the
same time and in the same manner as if they have been elected; however, if any vacancies are
created after local certification and prior to the deadline provided in subdivision (4) of section
115.453 which cause the number of filed candidates to be less than the number of vacancies to
HB 2891 18
44 be filled, an election shall be held, and write-in candidates for such positions shall be eligible
45 as otherwise provided by law.
206.090. 1. After the hospital district has been declared organized, the declaring
2 county commission shall divide the district into six election districts as equal in population as
3 possible, and shall by lot number the districts from one to six inclusive. The county
4 commission shall cause an election to be held in the hospital district within ninety days after
5 the order establishing the hospital district to elect hospital district directors. Each voter shall
6 vote for six directors, one from each district, except in any county of the third classification
7 without a township form of government and with more than ten thousand six hundred but
8 fewer than ten thousand seven hundred inhabitants, each voter shall vote for one director from
9 the hospital election district in which the voter resides. Directors shall serve a term of six
10 years or a lesser term of years as may be established by the county commission. If directors
11 are to serve a term of six years, the initial term of the director elected from district number
12 one shall serve a term of one year, the director elected from district number two shall serve a
13 term of two years, the director elected from district number three shall serve a term of three
14 years, the director elected from district number four shall serve a term of four years, the
15 director elected from district number five shall serve a term of five years, and the director
16 elected from district number six shall serve a term of six years; thereafter, the terms of all
17 directors shall be six years. If the county commission chooses to establish a term of office of
18 less than six years, the initial election of directors shall be done in a manner established by the
19 county commission. All directors shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified.
20 Any vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the board of directors who shall
21 appoint a person to serve as director until the next municipal election.
2. Candidates for director of the hospital district shall be citizens of the United States,
23 voters of the hospital district who have resided within the state for one year next preceding the
24 election and who are at least thirty years of age. All candidates shall file their declaration of
25 candidacy with the [county commission calling the election for the organizational election,
26 and for subsequent elections, with the secretary of the board of directors of the district]
27 appropriate election authority.
3. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, if the number of candidates for office
29 of director is no greater than the number of directors to be elected, no election shall be held,
30 and the candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same time and in the
31 same manner as if they had been elected.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 1 to 3 of this section, after the
33 formation of the hospital district, the hospital board of directors, by a majority vote of the
34 directors with the consent of a majority of the county commission on an order of record, may
35 abolish the six hospital districts' election districts and cause the hospital district directors to be
HB 2891 19
elected from the hospital district at large. Upon opting to elect the hospital district directors at
large, the then-serving hospital district directors shall continue to serve the remainder of their
terms and any vacancies on the board, after the date of such option, shall be filled by an
election conducted at large in the district.
247.217. 1. Any two or more contiguous public water supply districts organized
under the provisions of sections 247.010 to 247.220 may be consolidated into a single district
by a decree of the circuit court in which the district with the largest acreage was originally
incorporated and organized.
2. Proceedings for consolidation of such districts shall be substantially as follows:
The board of directors of each of the districts to be consolidated shall authorize, by resolution
passed at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for such purpose, its president, on
behalf of the district, to petition the circuit court having jurisdiction for consolidation with
any one or more other contiguous public water supply districts.
3. Such petition shall be filed in the circuit court having jurisdiction and the court
shall set a date for a hearing thereon and the clerk shall give notice thereof in some newspaper
of general circulation in each county in which each of the districts proposed to be
consolidated is located.
4. Such notice shall be substantially as follows:
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ______ COUNTY, MISSOURI
NOTICE OF THE FILING OF A PETITION
FOR CONSOLIDATION OF
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT NO. ______,
OF ______ COUNTY, MISSOURI, AND
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY DISTRICT NO. ______,
OF ______ COUNTY, MISSOURI
(Additional districts may be named as required.)
To all voters, landowners, and interested persons within the boundaries
of the above-described public water supply districts:
You are hereby notified:
1. That a petition has been filed in this court for the consolidation of
the above-named public water supply districts into one public
water supply district, as provided by law.
2. That a hearing on said petition will be held before this court on
the ______ day of ______, 20______, at ______, ______.m.
3. Exceptions or objections to the consolidation of said districts
may be made by any voters or landowners of any of such districts
proposed to be consolidated, provided such exceptions or
HB 2891 20
objections are filed in writing not less than five days prior to the
date set for the hearing on the petition.
4. The names and addresses of the attorneys for the petitioner are:
_______________
Clerk of the Circuit Court of
______ County, Missouri
5. The notice shall be published in three consecutive issues of a weekly newspaper in
each county in which any portion of any district proposed to be consolidated lies, or in lieu
thereof, in twenty consecutive issues of a daily newspaper in each county in which any
portion of any district proposed to be consolidated lies; the last insertion of such notice to be
made not less than seven nor more than twenty-one days before the hearing.
6. The court, for good cause shown, may continue the case or the hearing thereon
from time to time until final disposition thereof.
7. Exceptions or objections to the consolidation of such districts may be made by any
voter or landowner within the boundaries of the proposed district. The exceptions or
objections shall be in writing and shall specify the grounds upon which the same are made
and shall be filed not later than five days before the date set for hearing the petition. If any
such exceptions or objections are filed, the court shall take them into consideration in passing
upon the petition for consolidation and shall also consider the evidence in support of the
petition. If the court finds that the consolidation will provide for the rendering of necessary
water service in the districts, and is in the best interest of the voters and the landowners of the
district, it shall, by its decree, approve such consolidation. The decree of consolidation shall
set an effective date for the consolidation of the districts and shall provide that the proposed
consolidated district shall be divided into five subdistricts and shall fix boundary lines of each
subdistrict, all of which subdistricts shall have approximately the same area and shall be
numbered.
8. The decree of consolidation shall not become final and conclusive until it has been
submitted to voters in each of the districts proposed to be included in the consolidated district.
9. If, upon canvass and declaration of the results, it is found and determined that the
question has been assented to by a majority of the voters of each district voting on the
question, the court shall issue its order declaring the results of the elections, declaring its
previous decree of consolidation to be final and conclusive, and in addition, the decree shall
provide for an election of a director from each of the subdistricts set forth in the decree of the
court as specified in subsection 7 of this section. The terms of office for the directors elected
at such election shall be as follows: The director elected from the subdistrict designated by
the circuit court as number one shall serve until the next regular election, or until [his] a
HB 2891 21
70 successor has been elected and qualified; those directors elected from the subdistricts
71 designated by the circuit court as numbers two and three shall serve until the regular election
72 following the next regular election or until their successors have been elected and qualified;
73 those directors elected from the subdistricts designated by the circuit court as numbers four
74 and five shall serve until the annual regular election following the next two regular elections,
75 or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Thereafter all directors shall be
76 elected as provided by sections 247.010 to 247.220. The election shall be held at least thirty
77 days before the effective date of the consolidation. The returns shall be certified by the
78 judges and clerks of election to the circuit court having jurisdiction and the court shall
79 thereupon enter its order naming the directors from each subdistrict.
10. The eligibility and requirements for a director for a consolidated district shall be
81 identical with those set forth in section 247.060 and no two members of the board shall reside
82 in the same subdistrict. Any candidate shall have [his] such candidate's name imprinted
83 upon the ballot, provided [he] such candidate shall file a declaration of intention to become
84 such a candidate with the [clerk of the circuit court] appropriate election authority.
11. In its final decree, the court shall designate a name for the consolidated district
86 which shall be as follows: Consolidated Public Water Supply District No. ______, of ______
87 County, Missouri.
12. On the effective date of the consolidation of the districts, the newly elected
89 directors shall organize in the same manner as is provided in sections 247.010 to 247.220, and
90 all of such provisions shall apply to consolidated public water supply districts in the same
91 manner as to other public water supply districts.
13. At the time of the effective date of the consolidation, all the property of the
93 original districts shall be combined and administered as one unit, which shall be subject to the
94 liens, liabilities and obligations of the original districts, provided that if any district included
95 in the consolidated district has issued general obligation bonds which are outstanding at the
96 time of the consolidation, any taxes to be levied to pay the bonds and interest thereon shall be
97 levied only upon the property within the original district issuing the bonds as it existed on the
98 date of such issuance. All special obligation or revenue bonds issued by any district included
99 in the consolidated district shall be paid in accordance with the terms thereof, without
100 preference, from the revenue received by the consolidated district.
14. A certified copy of the decrees of the court shall be filed in the office of the
102 recorder and in the office of the county clerk in each county in which any part of the
103 consolidated district is located, and in the office of the secretary of state. Such copies shall be
104 filed by the clerk of the circuit court and the filing fees shall be taxed as costs.
249.140. 1. Any candidate for the office of trustee in the district shall be an American
2 citizen over the age of twenty-five years and shall have been a resident within the county
HB 2891 22
within which the district is situated for more than four whole years next before the date of the
election at which [he] such person is a candidate and shall be a voter of the district. Any
person desiring to become a candidate for the office of trustee at the election held on the
original incorporation of the district, as provided in section 249.070, shall file with the
[county commission or with the election commissioners] appropriate election authority a
statement, under oath, that [he] such person possesses the qualifications required by sections
249.010 to 249.420 for trustee and shall pay a filing fee of five dollars, whereupon [his] such
person's name shall be placed on the ballot as candidate for trustee. Any person desiring to
become a candidate for the office of trustee in any subsequent election shall file such
statement, under oath, with and pay such filing fee to the [secretary of the board of trustees]
appropriate election authority, whereupon [his] such person's name shall be placed on the
ballot as candidate for the office of trustee.
2. At such initial election the candidate who receives the highest number of votes
shall be elected for a six-year term as trustee; the candidate who receives the second highest
number of votes shall be elected for a four-year term as trustee; the candidate who receives
the third highest number of votes shall be elected for a two-year term as trustee.
3. After [his] such person's election each trustee shall take and subscribe [his] an
oath or affirmation before the clerk of the circuit court to the effect that [he] such person is
qualified to act as trustee under the provisions of sections 249.010 to 249.420 and that [he]
such person will perform [his] such person's duties as such trustee to the best of [his] such
person's ability and impartially in the interest of the whole district.
257.170. 1. Candidates for election to the board of trustees shall file their
declarations of candidacy with the [secretary of the board of trustees or in the case of the first
election, the filing shall be in like manner with the secretary of the] appropriate election
authority. The declaration of candidacy shall set forth the candidate's qualifications as
provided herein.
2. The ballots shall not designate the candidates' parties.
3. At least a majority of the then qualified members of the board of trustees or of the
election district commission, as the case might be, shall jointly tabulate the results received
and shall certify the candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for the respective terms
of office and until their successors have been elected and qualified. In the case of the election
district commission executing its duties hereunder, the secretary thereof shall forthwith send
to the court, by registered mail, one complete copy of all returns.
321.130. A person, to be qualified to serve as a director, shall be a resident and voter
of the district for at least one year before the election or appointment and be over the age of
twenty-four years. In the event the person is no longer a resident of the district, the person's
office shall be vacated, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in section 321.200.
HB 2891 23
Nominations and declarations of candidacy shall be filed [at the headquarters of the fire
protection district] with the appropriate election authority by paying a filing fee equal to
the amount of a candidate for county office as set forth under section 115.357, and filing a
statement under oath that such person possesses the required qualifications. Thereafter, such
candidate shall have the candidate's name placed on the ballot as a candidate for director.
321.210. On the first Tuesday in April after the expiration of at least two full calendar
years from the date of the election of the first board of directors, and on the first Tuesday in
April every two years thereafter, an election for members of the board of directors shall be
held in the district. Nominations shall be filed [at the headquarters of the fire protection
district in which a majority of the district is located] with the appropriate election authority
by paying a filing fee equal to the amount of a candidate for county office as set forth under
section 115.357 and filing a statement under oath that the candidate possesses the required
qualifications. The candidate receiving the most votes shall be elected. Any new member of
the board shall qualify in the same manner as the members of the first board qualify.

Modifies provisions governing candidate filing location for nonpartisan elections

Sponsors

Rep. Jamie Gragg (R) sponsors HB 2891 alone.

Committees

HB 2891 went before 1 committee: Emerging Issues.

Emerging Issues
Emerging Issues
Referred to · May 15, 2026 · 1,249 Bills

History

HB 2891 has taken 3 actions since Jan 8, 2026, the latest on May 15, 2026.

ChamberAction
May 15, 2026
House
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
Jan 12, 2026
House
Read Second Time (H)
Jan 8, 2026
House
Introduced and Read First Time (H)

Votes

HB 2891 has not gone to a roll call.


Source: house.mo.gov · legiscan.com