HCS/HB 268 - This act modifies provisions relating to professional registration.BACKGROUND CHECKS (SECTIONS 43.546, 168.014, 190.106, 208.222, 209.324, 210.487, 301.551, 324.055, 324.129, 324.246, 324.488, 324.1105, 326.257, 330.025, 331.025, 332.015, 334.015, 334.403, 334.501, 334.701, 334.739, 334.805, 335.022, 335.042, 336.025, 337.018, 337.308, 337.501, 337.605, 337.702, 338.052, 339.015, 339.510, 345.016, 374.711, 436.225, 443.702, 476.802, 484.125, 590.060 & 640.011)
This act provides that certain agencies, boards, or commissions may require fingerprint submissions for application for certain licenses, certificates, permits, and employment. If fingerprints are required, the agency, board, or commission shall require applicants to submit fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol for the purpose of conducting a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal history background check. The fingerprints and any required fees shall be sent to the Highway Patrol and shall be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to conduct a federal background check. The Highway Patrol shall notify the agency, board, or commission of any criminal history record discovered.
These provisions are identical to SB 636 (2025) and HB 992 (2025) and is similar to SCS/SB 875 (2024), SCS/HCS/HB 1659 (2024), and HCS/HB 1800 (2024).
SUSPENSION OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES FOR FAILURE TO PAY STATE TAXES (SECTIONS 324.001 & 337.647 AND THE REPEAL OF SECTIONS 324.010 & 339.845)
This act repeals the provisions regarding suspension of certain professional licenses for delinquency on any state taxes or failure to file state income tax returns in the last three years.
These provisions are identical to the perfected HB 478 (2025), HB 766 (2025), SCS/HB 2280 (2025), and HB 2699 (2024).
LICENSE WAIVERS FOR SPOUSES OF MISSOURI LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (SECTION 324.009)
Current law requires an oversight body for professional licenses to waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements within 30 days for a resident military spouse or a nonresident military spouse and shall issue such applicant a license if the applicant meets all other requirements. This act provides such waiver to resident and nonresident spouses of Missouri law enforcement officers, as such term is defined in the act. Additionally, this act repeals provisions relating to application to oversight bodies that have entered into licensing compacts.
This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected HB 478 (2025), HCS/HB 946 (2025), is substantially similar to a provision in SS/SB 61 (2025), and is similar to SB 283 (2025).
RECIPROCITY FOR LICENSED DIETITIANS (SECTIONS 324.214)
This act provides any person who holds a valid current dietitian license issued by other jurisdictions as provided in the act and who has been licensed for at least one year may submit an application for a dietitian license in Missouri. The State Committee of Dietitians ("Committee") shall:
(1) Within six months of receiving an application, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements if it determines that there were minimum education requirements and, if applicable, work experience and clinical supervision requirements and the other jurisdiction verifies that those requirements were met. The Committee may require an applicant to pass an examination specific to Missouri laws; or
(2) Within thirty days of receiving an application from a nonresident military spouse or a resident military spouse, waive any examination, educational, or experience requirements and issue a license.
The Committee shall not waive any such requirements for applicants who have a revoked license, are currently under investigation or disciplinary action, have a complaint pending, do not hold a license in good standing, have a criminal record that would disqualify licensure in Missouri, or do not hold a valid current license on the date of receipt of the application. Additionally, if another jurisdiction has taken disciplinary action against an applicant, the Committee shall determine if the cause was corrected and if the matter was resolved.
Furthermore, any person who is licensed under this act shall be subject to the Committee's jurisdiction and all rules and regulations pertaining to dietetics. Finally, this act shall not be construed to waive any requirement for fees of licensure.
These provisions are identical to a provision in HB 397 (2025) and HB 2477 (2024) and is substantially similar to a provision in SB 412 (2025).
NONRENEWABLE TEMPORARY LICENSES FOR DIETITIANS (SECTION 324.218)
This act establishes a temporary license for dietitians. Under the act, an applicant who has not previously taken or passed an examination recognized by the State Committee of Dietitians ("Committee") and who meets the qualifications for licensure as a dietitian may obtain without examination a nonrenewable temporary license by paying a temporary license fee and submitting to the Committee an agreement-to-supervise form that is signed by a licensed dietitian who has agreed to supervise the applicant and has active dietetics practice in this state for a minimum of one year. The temporary license shall expire the date the Committee is notified by the supervising dietitian that the temporary licensee's employment has ceased or within one hundred eighty days of its issuance, whichever occurs first.
This act further provides that the supervising dietitian shall not be an immediate family member of the temporary licensee. Additionally, the act requires the supervising dietitian to submit a signed notarized form attesting that the applicant shall begin employment at a location in this state within seven days of issuance of the temporary license. If the temporary licensee's employment ceases, the supervising dietitian shall notify the Committee within three days. Finally, this act provides that a supervising dietitian shall not supervise more than one temporary licensee at a time.
This provision is identical to a provision in HB 397 (2025), SB 412 (2025), SB 1053 (2024), HB 1666 (2024), in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), HB 845 (2023), and HB 873 (2023).
EMERGENCY SUSPENSION AND RESTRICTIONS ON MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND CHIROPRACTORS (SECTIONS 324.263 & 331.084)
This act provides that the Board of Therapeutic Massage and the Board of Chiropractic Examiners can apply to the Administrative Hearing Commission ("AHC") for an emergency suspension or restriction of a license if the licensee is the subject of a pending criminal indictment, information, or other charge related to the duties and responsibilities of the licensed occupation, and there is reasonable cause to believe that the public health, safety, or welfare is at imminent risk of harm.
Within one business day of receiving the complaint, the AHC shall return a service packet, as described in the act, to the board, which shall then serve the licensee within twenty-four hours. Within five days of receipt of the complaint, the AHC shall conduct a review and, if the AHC determines there is reasonable cause for the board's complaint, the AHC shall enter an order of suspension or restriction. The order will be effective upon personal service or delivery of a copy to all of the licensee's addresses on file. The AHC shall then hold an evidentiary hearing on the record within forty-five days of the board's filing, or upon final adjudication of the criminal charges, to determine if the initial order entered by the AHC will continue in effect and whether a cause for discipline exists. If no cause for discipline is found, the AHC shall issue findings and terminate the order for suspension or restriction. If the AHC finds cause for discipline, the AHC shall issue findings and order the suspension or restriction to remain in effect until a disciplinary hearing before the board, which may impose discipline otherwise authorized by state law.
Furthermore, this act provides that if the AHC does not grant an initial order, the board shall remove all reference to such emergency suspension or restriction from public records.
These provisions are identical to HB 58 (2025), provisions in the perfected HB 478 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025), and contains a provision similar to HB 1549 (2024), a provision in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), HCS/HB 175 (2023), and HB 1610 (2022).
DIETITIAN LICENSURE COMPACT (SECTIONS 324.1800 TO 324.1865)
This act establishes the Dietitian Licensure Compact ("Compact"), which facilitates the interstate practice of dietetics and authorizes dietitians licensed in a participating state to practice in other participating states. The Compact sets forth the requirements to be met in order for a state to join and the requirements for a dietitian to obtain and exercise the ability to practice in other participating states.
The Compact further provides that a dietitian with compact privilege shall function within the scope of practice authorized by the participating state in which they seek to practice and shall be subject to that state's regulatory authority. A dietitian whose privilege in a participating state is encumbered or removed is not eligible for compact privilege in other participating states until the encumbrance or removal has passed and all requirements are met.
Additionally, the Compact creates a joint government agency known as the Dietitian Licensure Compact Commission and provides for its powers and duties, including the development and maintenance of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse actions, and investigative information on all licensees and applicants.
Furthermore, the Compact shall come into effect on the date in which the seventh state enacts the Compact into law. Any participating state may withdraw from the Compact by repealing the Compact, but such withdrawal shall not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of the repeal. Finally, the Compact shall be binding upon participating states and shall supersede any conflict with state law.
These provisions are identical to provisions in HB 397 (2025) and in HB 2477 (2024) and are substantially similar to a provision in SB 412 (2025).
PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY IN CORRECTIONAL CENTERS (SECTION 332.081)
Current law provides that no corporation shall practice dentistry unless that corporation is a nonprofit corporation or a professional corporation under Missouri law. This act provides that such provision shall not apply to entities contracted with the state to provide care in correctional centers.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), in the perfected HB 56 (2025), HB 122 (2025), in SCS/SB 317 (2025), in HCS/HB 943 (2025), in HCS/HB 1505 (2025) and is substantially similar to a provision in SB 143 (2025), in SB 548 (2025), SB 1287 (2024), in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1659 (2024), and in SCS/HB 2280 (2024).
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EMBALMERS (SECTIONS 333.041 & 333.042)
This act modifies the process for obtaining a license to practice embalming and to practice funeral directing.
This act provides that a practicum embalming student registrant may assist, under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer, in a licensed funeral establishment after approval by the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors ("Board"), but shall not assist when not under such supervision.
In addition of the current requirements for an embalmer's license, this act provides that an applicant for an initial license to practice embalming shall furnish evidence that he or she has passed the National Board Examination Sciences, the Missouri Law Examination, and upon written request to the Board and if such person has not previously passed, the person may sit for the National Board Examination Arts. Additionally, the applicant shall provide evidence of employment in a qualifying embalmer apprentice program, as defined in the act, for no less than six months and has personally embalmed at least twenty-five dead human bodies under the supervision of a licensed embalmer, with the first twelve bodies embalmed under the direct supervision of a licensed embalmer.
Additionally, this act repeals provisions regarding failure to complete the requirements for an embalmer's license in a five-year period, passage of a state examination administered by the Board for an embalmer's license, issuance of an embalmer's or funeral director's license by the Board, and waiver of any licensure requirements to certain individuals of a licensed funeral director because of sickness, mental incapacity, or injury.
This act also provides licensure requirements for an initial license to practice funeral directing. An applicant for such license shall furnish evidence that he or she is eighteen years of age, possesses a high school diploma or equivalent thereof, and has either:
(1) Completed a funeral service education program and received a passing score on the National Board Examination Arts and the Missouri Law Examination; or
(2) Applied for a funeral director provisional license, completed a qualifying funeral director apprentice program, and:
(a) Within twenty-four months, completes a twelve-month apprentice program under the personal supervision of a licensed funeral director in a licensed Missouri funeral establishment, which includes arranging and conducting ten funeral services, and receives a passing score on the National Board Examination Arts and the Missouri Law Examination; or
(b) Within thirty-six months, completes an eighteen-month apprentice program under the personal supervision of a licensed funeral director in a licensed Missouri funeral establishment, which includes arranging and conducting twenty-five funeral services, and receives a passing score on the Missouri Law Examination.
Additionally, this act repeals provisions regarding hours devoted as an apprentice for applicants of a funeral director license, passage of a state examination administered by the Board for a funeral director's license, failure to complete the requirements for an embalmer's license in a two-year period, and waiver of certain requirements for licensed embalmers seeking a funeral director license.
A person seeking to obtain a funeral director limited license for work only in a cremation funeral establishment shall meet the qualifications as specified in the act. Additionally, such person shall be exempt from an apprenticeship program.
Finally, this act provides that the Board may, at its discretion and upon written request, waive the funeral director licensure requirements for up to six months if there is an absence of a funeral director in charge due to the death or disability and there is no licensed funeral director available to fulfill the duties. The waiver may allow for a spouse, next of kin, personal representative, or conservator to conduct business until such time as a licensed funeral director can be obtained or arrangements for closure or sale of the funeral establishment, but the waiver shall not allow any services to be provided for which a formal funeral service education program is required.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected HB 478 (2025), in the perfected HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025) and are similar to provisions in SB 351 (2025), SB 1052 (2024), in SCS/HB 2280 (2024), in HCS/HBs 2322 & 1774 (2024), SB 348 (2023), HB 629 (2023), HB 1491 (2022), HCS/SB 9 (2021), HCS/SB 330 (2021), SCS/HB 585 (2021), HCS/HB 724 (2021), HB 1349 (2021), and HB 2432 (2020).
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE AS CERTAIN SOCIAL WORKERS (SECTIONS 337.600, 337.604, 337.615, 337.627, 337.628, 337.644 & 337.645)
Currently, the educational requirements for licensure of certain social workers include receiving a baccalaureate or master's degree in social work from an accredited program approved by the Council on Social Work Education or receiving a doctorate or Ph.D. in social work. This act provides that such applicants may receive a master degree in social work from a social work program either accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or recognized and approved by the State Committee for Social Workers as set forth in the act.
These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected HB 478 (2025), in the perfected HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025) and is substantially similar to HB 216 (2025), HCS/HB 1533 (2024) and provisions in SCS/HB 2280 (2024).
CLINICAL FELLOWSHIPS FOR SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS (SECTION 345.050)
This act modifies the requirements for licensure as a speech pathologist or audiologist by providing for completion of a clinical fellowship under the direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist in good standing, rather than under the direct supervision of a person licensed by the state of Missouri in the profession in which the applicant seeks to be licensed.
This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), in the perfected SS/SB 61 (2025), SB 431 (2025), in the perfected HB 478 (2025), in HB 765 (2025), and in SCS/HB 834 (2025).
KATIE O'BRIEN