New Missouri laws effective in 2025 include a statewide ban on cell phones in K-12 public and charter schools effective for the 2025-26 school year. This law requires school districts to update their cell phone policy before the start of the new year. Exceptions are included such as for medical needs, emergencies and if a teacher directs a student to do research on the mobile device.

Missouri’s minimum wage increased to $13.75 per hour with an effective date of January 1.

Capital Gains are now tax free from Missouri Income Tax for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2025.

Emergency medical services standards are updated to provide more training and require audits of ambulance districts.

No fire protection or fire prevention ordinances shall impose regulations of farm buildings or farm structures.

Expanded protections passed for any unpaid person who helps during an emergency under the Good Samaritan law.

Seventy bills have been sent to Governor Kehoe after passing the Missouri House and Senate: 16 of the 70 were state budget bills with54 bills related to new laws we must live under.

Not 54 new laws though, because the state legislature passed several omnibus bills that combine multiple subjects and what were stand alone bills. This often happens at the last minute and frequently results in bad laws. It is also unconstitutional per Article 3 of the Missouri Constitution, that pesky rule book for making laws that our lawmakers swear an oath to follow and then ignore.

The result of omnibus bills passing is that hundreds of changes to Missouri laws are now in effect either from brand new laws or revisions of existing laws.

To see a complete list of new laws, go to house.mo.govClick on Legislation Tab, then choose: “Bills Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed” on left menu bar.

To learn about Article 3 of the Missouri constitution and find updates on lawsuits asking the courts to dismiss the unconstitutional Omnibus Bills,go to https://article3institute.org/