CCS/HCS/SS/SB 160 - This act establishes provisions relating to educational institutions. PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (Section 160.082) The act creates the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act", which governs discriminatory practices in elementary and secondary educational institutions as they relate to protective hairstyles. An "educational institution" is defined as including any public or private prekindergarten program, public or private elementary or secondary school, charter school, or public or private school board, charter school governing board, or other school administrative body. Under the act, educational institutions that receive state financial assistance or enroll students who receive state financial aid shall not discriminate based on a person’s hair texture or protective hairstyle if it is commonly associated with a particular race or origin. However, educational institutions may require hair nets, coverings, or secured hair for safety reasons in career and technical training courses, as needed to meet safety regulations. This provision shall not apply to an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization if the application of such provision would not be consistent with the religious tenets of that organization. This provision is identical to HB 284 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025) and HCS/HB 937 (2025), and is similar to SB 969 (2024), HCS/HBs 1900, 1591 & 2515 (2024), SCS/SB 424 (2023), HCS/HBs 930, 361, & 326 (2023), SB 994 (2022), HCS/HBs 1743 & 2185 (2022), SB 145 (2021), HB 282 (2021), HB 420 (2021), HB 503 (2021), HB 1066 (2021), HB 1309 (2021), HB 1314 (2021), HB 2356 (2020), and a provision in HB 250 (2025). AUTHORITY TO CONFER DEGREES (Sections 172.280 and 174.160) This act authorizes Missouri State University to grant Doctor of Philosophy degrees in disciplines other than engineering and to grant Bachelor of Science degrees in veterinary technology. These provisions are identical to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025), and HCS/HB 606 (2025). STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING (Sections 173.1555 and 173.1556) This act prohibits public institutions of higher learning, such as state colleges, community colleges, and technical schools, from taking adverse action against a student association because of the association's beliefs or the actions of its leaders. Specifically, these institutions shall not deny a belief-based student association, such as a political, ideological, or religious association, any benefits that are available to other student groups, including access to campus facilities and communication channels. A belief-based student association shall be responsible for defining its own mission, beliefs, and conduct standards. A belief-based student association may seek relief in a judicial or administrative proceeding against an institution that violates the provisions of the act. The provisions of this act shall not apply to a belief-based student association if there is substantial evidence that such association's viewpoint or expression of the viewpoint would materially and substantially disrupt the educational environment or interfere with the rights of others, in accordance with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Healy v. James (1972). These provisions are similar to HB 875 (2025), HB 1518 (2024), HB 136 (2023), HB 1724 (2022), SB 332 (2021), SB 761 (2020), HB 1926 (2020), SB 314 (2019), HB 837 (2019), HB 2074 (2018), and provisions in SB 1022 (2018). DANNY'S LAW: OFFENSE OF HAZING (Section 578.365) This act provides that the offense of hazing shall be known as "Danny's Law" and provides that a person is guilty of the offense of hazing if a person knowingly, actively, and not under duress participates in, solicits another person to participate in, or causes or plans a willful act that endangers a student or certain members of organizations under the sanction of a public or private college or university. This act provides that a person shall not be guilty of the offense of hazing if the person establishes that he or she: · Was present at the event where hazing occurred and a person was in need of immediate medical assistance; · Was the first person to call 911 or campus security to report the need for medical attention; · Provided the relevant information to the 911 operator or campus security; and · Remained at the scene until medical assistance arrived and cooperated with such assistance. Additionally, this act provides that a person shall be immune from prosecution if the person can establish he or she rendered aid to the hazing victim before assistance arrived. This provision is identical to HCS/HB 234 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 43 (2025), HCS/SS#2/SB 167 (2025), HCS/HB 234 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HBs 971, 293 & 978 (2025), and is similar to SB 384 (2025), SB 1427 (2024), and HB 1443 (2024). OLIVIA SHANNON