SS/SCS/HB 225 - This act modifies provisions relating to first responders. HIGHWAY PATROL SALARIES (Section 43.080) Under current law, the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol provides a salary schedule report to the Governor and General Assembly which includes a comparison of the salaries of police officers of the three largest police departments in the state. This act adds that the salary schedule report shall also include a comparison of the salaries of police officers employed by the Iowa State Patrol, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Illinois State Police, the Kentucky State Police, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Arkansas State Police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Kansas Highway patrol. These provisions are similar to SB 633 (2025), HB 1065 (2025), provisions in HCS/HB 1505 (2025), provisions in SB 143 (2025), provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 1659 (2024), HB 2701 (2024), and SCS/HCS/HB 2700 (2024). CLEARANCE RATES (Sections 43.505 and 650.040) Under current law, the Department of Public Safety collects and compiles certain data relating to crimes and public safety. This act provides that beginning January 1, 2026, the Department of Public Safety shall publish clearance rates which shall include the rate at which law enforcement agencies clear an offense by arrest or by exceptional means, as defined in the act. This act also creates the "Missouri Violent Crime Clearance Grant Program" within the Department of Public Safety which shall be used to improve law enforcement strategies and initiatives aimed at increasing violent crime clearance rates, as provided in the act. In awarding grants, the Department shall give priority to law enforcement agencies with consistent public reporting of low clearance rates, that demonstrate a commitment to working with organizations to reduce violent crime rates, and agencies who have developed specific goals and performance metrics. All law enforcement agencies that receive funding shall report to the Department as provided in the act. These provisions are identical to SB 473 (2025), and similar to provisions in HCS/HB 591 (2025), provisions in HCS/HB 1505 (2025), and provisions in SB 189 (2025). LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE FROM FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS (Section 44.087) This act provides that the chief law enforcement executive for any law enforcement agency may request assistance from a law enforcement agency of another United States jurisdiction outside this state. An offender arrested by a foreign law enforcement agency shall be delivered to the first available law enforcement officer in the jurisdiction of the arrest. The law enforcement officers shall remain employees of their respective agencies for the purposes of immunity, workers' compensation, and other employment-related matters. However, certain governmental immunities shall apply as interpreted by the federal and state courts of the responding agency. These provisions are identical to SB 92 (2025), provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HCS#2/HB 495 (2025), provisions in HCS/SB 189 (2025), provisions in the perfected HB 1707 (2024), HB 1577 (2024), provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 119 & 120 (2023), and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 1015 (2023). SHERIFFS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (Sections 57.280, 57.952, 57.956, 57.961, 57.967, and 488.435, and the repeal of sections 57.955, 57.962, 483.088 & 488.024) This act provides that fees collected for service of process, which are not to exceed $75,000, rather than $50,000, in any year, shall be held in a county fund to be expended at the sheriff's discretion for the furtherance of his or her duties. Any such funds in excess of $75,000, rather than $50,000, in any calendar year shall be placed to the credit of the county's general revenue fund. Currently, sheriffs receive a $10 fee for service of any summons, writ, subpoena or other court order and such moneys shall be deposited in the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund for the purpose to supplement the salaries and resulting employee benefits of county deputy sheriffs. This act provides that the sheriff in charter, first, second, and fourth class counties shall receive a $20 fee for the service and sheriffs in third class counties shall receive a $15 fee for the service. The Missouri Treasurer shall deposit $10 of such fee in the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund, and $10 for charter, first, second, and fourth class counties and $5 for third class counties in the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund. Moneys collected from counties where the sheriff is not a member of the Sheriffs' Retirement System ("System") shall be deposited in total in the Deputy Sheriff Salary Supplementation Fund. Current law provides that the Board of the System shall proportion the benefits according to funds available if insufficient funds are generated to provide for the benefits that are payable. This act repeals this provision. This act also clarifies provisions relating to the employer pick-up under the Internal Revenue Code, which provides that a governmental entity may designate the contributions as employee contributions, but the employer pays the employee contribution to the system from the employee's salary. Any county with a sheriff that participates in the System that receives a per diem cost for incarceration of prisoners or for jail reimbursement shall have $1.75 per day per prisoner of such cost deducted. The Department of Corrections ("Department") shall send such deducted moneys to the State Treasurer who shall deposit it in the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund. If the System is funded at a 90% actuarially sound level and at a level above the actuarial needs of the System, then $1 per day per prisoner of the reimbursement shall be deducted and deposited in the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund. The System shall annually provide a copy of its actuarial report to the Department. This provision shall be effective on January 1, 2026. Lastly, this act repeals the provisions related to the assessment of a $3 fee in criminal and civil cases that is payable to the System. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 147 (2025), and similar to provisions in SCS/SB 141 (2025), provisions in HCS/HB 558 (2025), and provisions in SCS/HCS/HBs 44 & 426 (2025). SHERIFF OF ST. LOUIS CITY (Section 57.530) This act sets the minimum annual compensation for the deputy sheriffs of the City of St. Louis to $50,000 per year. These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HB 529 (2025) and provisions in HB 1456 (2025), and similar to provisions in SB 192 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SB 189 (2025). KANSAS CITY POLICE AGE LIMIT (Sections 84.540 and 84.570) Under current law, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners may authorize and provide for the organization of a police reserve force composed of residents of the city upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police. This act provides that no person shall serve on the police reserve force after the last day of the month in which the person turns 65 years of age. Additionally, law enforcement officers shall be separated from service on the last day of the month in which the employee becomes 65 years of age or reaches 35 years of creditable service under the Kansas City Police Retirement System, whichever occurs later. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 147 (2025). FIREMEN'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF ST. LOUIS: ADMINISTRATION OF OTHER PENSION PLANS (Sections 87.140, 87.145, 87.155, 87.260, and 87.350) This act provides that the Board of Trustees ("Board") of the Firemen's Retirement System of St. Louis ("FRS") shall not be prevented from simultaneously acting as the trustees of any other pension plan that provides retirement, disability, and death benefits for firefighters employed by St. Louis City. The administration of the other plan shall be in accordance with the terms of such plan. Additionally, the administration of the other plan includes the ability of the Board to establish rules and regulations for the administration of the plan's funds and for the transaction of the plan's business. The Board shall maintain separate records of all proceedings of the pension plan. Furthermore, this act provides that the Board shall have the authority and discretion to invest funds of the other pension plan in property of any kind. The Board may choose to invest the funds of FRS and the funds of the plan in the same investments if the amounts invested and the gains, profits, or losses are accounted for separately. No benefits due from the pension plan shall be paid from the funds of FRS. Additionally, no expenses incurred by the Board in the administration of the other pension plan or in the investment of the other pension plan's funds shall be paid by the funds of FRS. Finally, nothing in this act shall prevent the Board of Aldermen of St. Louis City from adopting ordinances relating to the pensioning of firefighters and their dependents in regards to other pension plans administered by the Board. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 147 (2025), provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), SB 255 (2025), HB 205 (2025), and to provisions in SCS/HCS/HBs 44 & 426 (2025), and provisions in HCS/HB 532 (2025), and are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SB 71 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 898 (2024), SCS/SB 1404 (2024), HB 1980 (2024), SB 349 (2021), and HB 1001 (2021). PUBLIC SAFETY SALES TAXES (Section 94.900) This act adds the village of Sunrise Beach and the cities of Hannibal, Moberly, Nevada, Joplin, Lamar Heights, and Lake Lotowana to the list of cities authorized to impose a sales tax for the purposes of public safety. This provision is substantially similar to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/HCS/HBs 594 & 508 (2025), identical to a provision in SCS/SB 104 (2025), SS#2/SCS/HB 199 (2025), and SCS/HCS/HB 643 (2025), and substantially similar to SB 749 (2025), HB 866 (2025), and HB 1572 (2025), and to a provision in HB 330 (2025), and HCS/HB 532 (2025). LOCAL USE TAXES (Section 144.757) Current law authorizes counties and municipalities to impose a local use tax if a local sales tax is imposed. This act extends such authority to any political subdivision with the ability to impose a sales tax for emergency services. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025) and a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 199 (2025), and is substantially similar to HCS/HB 641 (2025), SB 1264 (2024), and HB 2503 (2024), and a provision in SCS/SB 33 (2025), SB 270 (2025), and SB 382 (2025). PUBLIC SAFETY RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION (Sections 173.2655 and 173.2660) This act establishes the "Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Act" to provide college tuition awards for certain public safety personnel and their legal dependents. The act defines "public safety personnel" as including any police officer, firefighter, paramedic, telecommunicator first responder, emergency medical technician, or advanced emergency medical technician who is trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment. "Institution of higher education" is defined as including public community colleges and state colleges and universities located in Missouri; an approved private institution, as such term is defined in current law, that chooses to accept tuition award money as provided in the act; and accredited providers of emergency medical services training. Subject to appropriation, public safety personnel with at least six years of service shall be entitled to an award worth up to 100% of the resident tuition charges, including fees, of an institution of higher education located in Missouri if they satisfy the conditions set forth in the act. The maximum award to attend an approved private institution shall be equal to the total cost of tuition and mandatory fees charged to a Missouri resident at the public institution of higher education that has the highest combined tuition and mandatory fee cost in the state, as determined by the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD). A private institution that chooses to accept any award money as a tuition payment shall not charge the recipient of the award any tuition that exceeds the maximum combined tuition and mandatory fee cost as determined by DHEWD. To apply for a tuition award, public safety personnel shall present to DHEWD verification of their current, valid license in a profession specified in the act, along with a certificate of verification signed by their employer verifying that they are employed full-time as public safety personnel. Such individuals shall also meet all admission requirements of the institution of higher education and pursue a license or associate or baccalaureate degree in an academic subject specified in the act. Individuals who have already earned a baccalaureate degree are ineligible to use the tuition award to earn another degree. Each year an individual applies for and receives a tuition award, he or she shall file with DHEWD documentation showing proof of employment and proof of residence in Missouri. Additionally, an applicant for a tuition award shall first apply for all other forms of federal and state student financial aid, including filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, applying for financial assistance under the G.I. Bill. (Section 173.2655) The legal dependent of public safety personnel with at least ten years of service is also eligible for a tuition award if he or she executes an agreement with the institution of higher education outlining the terms and conditions of the tuition award, including the legal dependent's commitment to reside in Missouri for the next five years, as well as a commitment to provide a copy of his or her state income tax return annually to DHEWD in order to prove residency in Missouri. The agreement shall also include a provision that if the tuition award recipient fails to provide proof of residency in Missouri for the five-year period following the use of the tuition award, the tuition award shall be treated as a loan to such recipient, with the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority as the loan servicer, as provided in the act. Finally, the agreement shall provide that any residency, filing, or payment obligation incurred by the tuition award recipient under the act is canceled in the event of the tuition award recipient's total and permanent disability or death. The five-year residency requirement for a legal dependent who receives a tuition award begins once the legal dependent applies for and receives the tuition award and continues until the tuition award recipient (a) completes the five-year tuition award eligibility period, (b) completes a baccalaureate degree, (c) completes an associate degree and notifies DHEWD that he or she does not intend to pursue a baccalauareate degree or additional associate degree using tuition awards, or (d) notifies DHEWD that he or she does not plan to use additional tuition awards. The legal dependent shall satisfy certain other criteria to be eligible for a tuition award. The legal dependent shall not have previously earned a baccalaureate degree, and he or she shall meet all admission requirements of the institution of higher education he or she wishes to attend. The legal dependent shall also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and, if applicable, apply for financial assistance under the G.I. Bill, as well as providing verification of the public safety personnel's eligibility for the tuition award to DHEWD, as provided in the act. (Sections 173.2655 and 173.2660) Public safety personnel and their legal dependents may receive a tuition award for up to five consecutive years if they otherwise continue to be eligible. The five years of eligibility starts once the individual applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time. DHEWD shall grant an award worth up to 100% of the individual's tuition remaining due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants. An application for a tuition award shall include a verification of the public safety personnel's satisfaction of the requirements of the act, including proof of full-time employment and residency status. Public safety personnel shall include such verification when they or their legal dependents are applying to DHEWD for a tuition award. The death of public safety personnel in the line of duty shall not disqualify an individual's otherwise eligible legal dependent from receiving the tuition award. In such a case, in lieu of submitting verification of the public safety personnel's employment, the legal dependent shall submit a statement attesting that, at the time of death, the public safety personnel satisfied the requirements of the act, and such individual died in the line of duty, as described in the act. DHEWD shall provide a tuition award to an eligible applicant for the award who applies for an "open seat", defined in the act as a vacant position in a class, course, or program that is available for enrollment. DHEWD shall not provide a tuition award if doing so would require an institution of higher education to create additional seats exceeding program capacity. Applications for tuition awards shall be submitted to DHEWD no later than December 15th annually. No later than March 1st annually, DHEWD shall send written notice of the applicant's eligibility or ineligibility for the tuition award and state whether the application has been approved or denied. If the applicant is determined not to be eligible for the tuition award, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for such determination. If the application is denied, the notice shall include the reason or reasons for the denial. The Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Fund is created for purposes of granting tuition awards as provided in the act. In the event that funds are insufficient to provide tuition awards for all eligible applicants, public safety personnel shall be in the first class of applicants to receive the awards, and dependents shall be in the second class, in a priority order specified in the act. The tuition awards provided for in this act are subject to appropriation. If there are no moneys in the Fund, no tuition awards shall be granted. (Section 173.2655) These provisions are identical to the truly agreed to and finally passed HCS/SS/SCS/SB 71 (2025) and provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/HB 419 (2025), and similar to HB 496 (2025), provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 87 (2025), and provisions in HCS/HBs 1514, 1525 & 1527 (2025). EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (Sections 190.053, 190.076, 190.109, 190.112, 190.166, 197.135, and 537.038) This act modifies training requirements for members of an ambulance district board of directors. Under this act, board members shall complete three hours of continuing education for each term of office. Failure to do so shall result in immediate disqualification and the office shall be vacant until filled. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), and SCS/SB 317 (2025), and is substantially similar to a provision in SB 548 (2025), SB 206 (2025), SCS/SB 1382 (2024), and SB 1340 (2024). Under this act, each ambulance district shall arrange for an audit of the district's records and accounts every three years by a certified public accountant. The audit shall be made available to the public on the district's website or otherwise freely available by other electronic means. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 548 (2025), SB 206 (2025), SCS/SB 1382 (2024), and SB 1340 (2024). The Department of Health and Seniors Services, as a part of regulating ground ambulance service licenses, shall promulgate rules regarding participation with regional emergency medical services advisory committees and ambulance service administrator qualifications. This act requires ambulance services to report to the Department individuals serving as ambulance service administrators. These administrators shall be required to complete training as described in the act. Finally, the Department may refuse to issue, deny renewal of, or suspend a license required for ground ambulance services or take other corrective actions for reasons specified in the act. If the Department makes a determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services, then the Department may require the license holder to submit and complete a corrective plan, as described in the act. The Department shall be required to provide notice of any determination of insolvency or insufficiency of services to persons and entities specified in the act. The Department shall immediately engage with other license holders in the area to determine how ground ambulance services may be provided to the affected area during the service disruption. Assisting license holders may be compensated for such assistance as described in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), and SCS/SB 317 (2025), and substantially similar to provisions in SB 548 (2025), SB 206 (2025), SB 1340 (2024), and provisions in SCS/SB 1382 (2024). Under this act, a specialty hospital, meaning a hospital other than a general acute care hospital, shall not be required to comply with certain statutory provisions relating to forensic examinations of victims of sexual assault if such hospital has in place a policy for the transfer of such victims to an appropriate hospital with an emergency department. This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), SB 178 (2025), SCS/SB 317 (2025), and the perfected HCS/HB 2413 (2024), and substantially similar to SB 1326 (2024). Under current law certain medical professionals, individuals with first aid training, or in cases of suicide attempts, any other individual renders emergency care or assistance at a scene of an emergency or accident, then such individual shall not liable for any civil damages except if damages are caused by gross negligence or willful or wanton acts. This act expands such liability protections to any person rendering emergency care or assistance. This provision is identical to a provision in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025) and is substantially similar to SB 521 (2025). STATE ADVISORY COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (Section 190.101) This act modifies the State Advisory Council on Emergency Medical Services by changing the number of council members from 16 to no more than 23 and specifying the members who shall serve on the Council. Currently, members are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Under this act, the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services, the regional EMS advisory committees, and the Time-Critical Diagnosis Advisory Committee shall appoint members. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025) and provisions in HCS/HB 943 (2025), and substantially similar to provisions in SCS/SB 317 (2025), SB 548 (2025), SB 206 (2025), SB 270 (2025), SB 1277 (2024), and provisions in SCS/SB 1382 (2024). GROUND AMBULANCE SERVICE REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCE TAX (Section 190.800) This act repeals an exemption from the ambulance service reimbursement allowance tax for ground ambulance services owned and operated by the state. These provisions are similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), HB 1133 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 7 (2025), HCS/HB 943 (2025), and SB 629 (2025). LINE OF DUTY COMPENSATION ACT (Section 287.243) Current law provides that the Line of Duty Compensation Act expires on June 19, 2025. This act repeals the sunset date. Additionally, the act modifies the definition of "killed in the line of duty" to include "illness" as an eligible cause of death, and increases from $25,000 to $100,000 the amount of compensation to which a claimant is entitled for any death occurring on or after June 19, 2009. Finally, this act authorizes a claim to be brought within two years, rather than one year, of the death of a public safety officer. These provisions are similar to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 81 & 174 (2025), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 71 (2025), and substantially similar to HB 365 (2025) and HB 1584 (2025), and provisions in HCS/SS#2/SCS/SB 10 (2025), SB 143 (2025), HCS/SB 189 (2025), SCS/SB 669 (2025), HCS/HB 72 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 87 (2025), HCS/HB 497 (2025), SCS/HCS/HBs 971, 293 & 978 (2025). EMERGENCY VEHICLES (Sections 300.100 and 304.022) Currently, the driver of an emergency vehicle may disregard certain traffic rules and regulations if certain visual or auditory signals are performed. This act provides a police vehicle is not required to use an audible or visual signal when obtaining evidence of a speeding violation where the speed limit is set by state statute, when responding to a suspected crime in progress when use of such signal could reasonably result in the destruction of evidence or escape of a suspect, or when conducting surveillance of a vehicle or the passengers of a vehicle who are suspected of involvement in a crime. These provisions are similar to provisions in HCS/SB 189 (2025), SCS/HB 1707 (2024), HB 942 (2023), and SCS/HCS/HB 1015 (2023). EMERGENCY VEHICLES - PARK RANGERS (Section 304.022) This act also adds vehicles operated by county or municipal park rangers to the definition of "emergency vehicle" applicable to yielding the right-of-way and the display of emergency lights. These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SB 189 (2025), and similar to provisions in SB 143 (2025). TOW LISTS - FIREFIGHTERS (Section 304.153) This act permits firefighters in St. Louis City to utilize the services of a tow management company or tow list, as specified by law. These provisions are similar to HB 1408 (2025). FIRE PROTECTION AND AMBULANCE DISTRICTS SALES TAX (Sections 321.552, 321.554, and 321.556) Current law authorizes ambulance and fire protection districts in certain counties to propose a sales tax at a rate of up to 0.5%. This act allows such districts to propose a sales tax of up to 1.0%, and repeals a prohibition on certain counties imposing such tax. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed SS/SCS/SB 271 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/SCS/HB 199 (2025), and the truly agreed to and finally passed SS#2/HCS/HBs 594 & 508 (2025), and are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 895 (2025), HCS/HB 1268 (2025), SB 354 (2023), SB 966 (2022), SB 175 (2021), SB 869 (2020), and HB 2386 (2020), and to a provision in SCS/SB 33 (2025), SB 270 (2025), SCS/SB 770 (2020), SS#2/SCS/HCS/HB 1854 (2020), and HCS/SS#2/SB 704 (2020). 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. These provisions are identical to provisions in the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 81 & 174 (2025), the truly agreed to and finally passed CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025), and SS/SB 61 (2025), substantially similar to provisions in the perfected HCS/HB 268 (2025), HB 478 (2025), and HCS/HB 946 (2025), and similar to SB 283 (2025). OFFENSE OF INTERFERENCE WITH A FIRST RESPONDER (Section 574.207) This act creates the offense of interference with a first responder, which shall be a class B misdemeanor for a first offense, or a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense. A person commits the offense when a person has received a verbal warning not to approach from a first responder who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty and the person knowingly and willfully violates the verbal warning and approaches within 20 feet with the intent to: • Impede or interfere with the first responder's ability to perform his or her legal duty; • Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or • Engage in conduct directed at a first responder that serves no legitimate purpose. This provision shall have no impact on an individual's First Amendment rights and shall not restrict the ability to observe or record first responders. These provisions are similar to SB 669 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SB 189 (2025). ERIC VANDER WEERD