Missouri 2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HB 3332 — Modifies provisions relating to employment benefits for first responders

Last action — Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 18, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Advancing 36% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

322 added · 158 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised HB 3332 removes a previous section related to public safety personnel recruitment and retention and introduces new provisions focusing on employment benefits for first responders. Specifically, it broadens the range of eligible educational subjects that first responders can study to receive tuition awards, ensuring they have access to a more diverse set of fields relevant to their roles. This change is important because it aims to enhance the training and skills of first responders, thereby improving public safety and support for these essential workers.

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SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE BILL NO.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.
3332 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MATTHIESEN.
3332 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4133H.04C JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To repeal sections 173.2655 and 287.243, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to employment benefits for first responders.
4133H.02I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk AN ACT To repeal section 173.2655, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to public safety personnel recruitment and retention.
Section 173.2655, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 173.2655, to read as follows:
Sections 173.2655 and 287.243, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 173.2655 and 287.243, to read as follows:
HB 3332 2 (6) "Legal dependent", as such term is defined by the United States Department of Education for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
HCS HB 3332 2 (6) "Legal dependent", as such term is defined by the United States Department of Education for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid;
and HB 3332 3 (e) For all public safety personnel, a certificate of verification signed by the individual's supervisor or employer verifying that such individual is currently employed full- time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment;
and HCS HB 3332 3 (e) For all public safety personnel, a certificate of verification signed by the individual's supervisor or employer verifying that such individual is currently employed full- time as public safety personnel and trained and authorized by law or rule to render emergency medical assistance or treatment;
(a) For police officers, eligible subjects include forensic science, fisheries and wildlife, political science, psychology, history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, global studies, Spanish, journalism, advertising, public relations, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, [and] criminal justice, general business, economics, accounting, marketing, finance, human resources management, information systems, and supply chain management and logistics;
(a) For police officers, eligible subjects include forensic science, fisheries and wildlife, political science, psychology, history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, global studies, Spanish, journalism, advertising, public relations, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, and criminal justice;
(b) For firefighters, paramedics, air ambulance pilots, air ambulance paramedics or nurses, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians, eligible subjects include biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, Spanish, advertising, public relations, paramedicine, fire science, fire technology, fire administration, fire management, communications, homeland security, emergency management, disaster management, [and] crisis management, general business, economics, accounting, marketing, finance, human resources management, information systems, and supply chain management and logistics;
(b) For firefighters, paramedics, air ambulance pilots, air ambulance paramedics or nurses, emergency medical technicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians, eligible subjects include biology, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, nutrition and health sciences, communication sciences and disorders, Spanish, advertising, public relations, paramedicine, fire science, fire technology, fire administration, fire management, communications, homeland security, emergency management, disaster management, and crisis management;
and HB 3332 4 (8) Submits a document to the department confirming that the public safety personnel has satisfied the provisions of subdivision (7) of this subsection, to be submitted in a form and manner as prescribed by the department.
and (8) Submits a document to the department confirming that the public safety personnel has satisfied the provisions of subdivision (7) of this subsection, to be submitted in a form and manner as prescribed by the department.
The five years of tuition award eligibility starts once the individual applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time and is available to such individual for the next five consecutive years or the individual's achievement of one hundred twenty credit hours, whichever occurs first.
HCS HB 3332 4 The five years of tuition award eligibility starts once the individual applies for and receives the tuition award for the first time and is available to such individual for the next five consecutive years or the individual's achievement of one hundred twenty credit hours, whichever occurs first.
HB 3332 5 7.
7.
To remain eligible, the public safety personnel or legal dependent shall comply with all requirements of the institution for continued attendance and award of an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree;
To remain eligible, the public HCS HB 3332 5 safety personnel or legal dependent shall comply with all requirements of the institution for continued attendance and award of an associate degree or a baccalaureate degree;
HB 3332 6 10.
10.
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 applicant is determined not to be eligible for the tuition award, the notice shall include the HCS HB 3332 6 reason or reasons for such determination.
In any year in which moneys in the public safety recruitment and retention fund are insufficient to fully fund tuition awards for all eligible applicants, tuition awards shall be awarded in the following order of priority;
In any year in which moneys in the public safety recruitment and retention fund are insufficient to fully fund tuition awards for all eligible applicants, tuition awards shall be awarded in the following order of priority[;
provided that, in the event of a tie in eligibility, available funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis:
provided that, in the event of a tie in eligibility, available funds shall be distributed on a pro rata basis]:
HB 3332 7 (a) Public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(a) Public safety personnel [in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation] that are defined by the department as renewal students;
(a) Dependents of public safety personnel in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
HCS HB 3332 7 (a) Dependents of public safety personnel [in departments located wholly or partially in counties or cities not within a county with the highest crime rate per capita, as determined by the most recent uniform crime reporting statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation] that are defined by the department as renewal students;
287.243.
1.
This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Line of Duty Compensation Act".
2.
As used in this section, unless otherwise provided, the following words shall mean:
(1) "Air ambulance pilot", a person certified as an air ambulance pilot in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to air ambulances adopted by the department of health and senior services;
(2) "Air ambulance registered professional nurse", a person licensed as a registered professional nurse in accordance with sections 335.011 to 335.096 and corresponding regulations adopted by the state board of nursing, 20 CSR 2200-4, et seq., who provides registered professional nursing services as a flight nurse in conjunction with an air ambulance program that is certified in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and the corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;
(3) "Air ambulance registered respiratory therapist", a person licensed as a registered respiratory therapist in accordance with sections 334.800 to 334.930 and corresponding regulations adopted by the state board for respiratory care, who provides respiratory therapy services in conjunction with an air ambulance program that is certified in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;
(4) "Child", any natural, illegitimate, adopted, or posthumous child or stepchild of a deceased public safety officer who, at the time of the public safety officer's fatality is:
(a) Eighteen years of age or under;
(b) Over eighteen years of age and a student, as defined in 5 U.S.C.
Section 8101;
or (c) Over eighteen years of age and incapable of self-support because of physical or mental disability;
(5) "Emergency medical technician", a person licensed in emergency medical care in accordance with standards prescribed by sections 190.001 to 190.245 and by rules adopted by the department of health and senior services under sections 190.001 to 190.245;
(6) "Firefighter", any person, including a volunteer firefighter, employed by the state or a local governmental entity as an employer defined under subsection 1 of section 287.030, HCS HB 3332 8 or otherwise serving as a member or officer of a fire department either for the purpose of the prevention or control of fire or the underwater recovery of drowning victims;
(7) "Flight crew member", an individual engaged in flight responsibilities with an air ambulance licensed in accordance with sections 190.001 to 190.245 and corresponding regulations applicable to such programs;
(8) "Killed in the line of duty", when any person defined in this section loses his or her life when:
(a) Death is caused by an accident, illness, or the willful act of violence of another;
(b) The public safety officer is in the active performance of his or her duties in his or her respective profession and there is a relationship between the accident, illness, or commission of the act of violence and the performance of the duty, even if the individual is off duty;
the public safety officer is traveling to or from employment;
or the public safety officer is taking any meal break or other break which takes place while that individual is on duty;
(c) Death is the natural and probable consequence of the injury or illness;
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and (d) Death occurs within three hundred weeks from the date the injury was received or illness was contracted.
The term excludes death resulting from the willful misconduct or intoxication of the public safety officer.
The division of workers' compensation shall have the burden of proving such willful misconduct or intoxication;
(9) "Law enforcement officer", any person employed by the state or a local governmental entity as a police officer, peace officer certified under chapter 590, or serving as an auxiliary police officer or in some like position involving the enforcement of the law and protection of the public interest at the risk of that person's life;
(10) "Local governmental entity", includes counties, municipalities, townships, board or other political subdivision, cities under special charter, or under the commission form of government, fire protection districts, ambulance districts, and municipal corporations;
(11) "Public safety officer", any law enforcement officer, firefighter, uniformed employee of the office of the state fire marshal, emergency medical technician, police officer, capitol police officer, parole officer, probation officer, state correctional employee, water safety officer, park ranger, conservation officer, or highway patrolman employed by the state of Missouri or a political subdivision thereof who is killed in the line of duty or any emergency medical technician, air ambulance pilot, air ambulance registered professional nurse, air ambulance registered respiratory therapist, or flight crew member who is killed in the line of duty;
HCS HB 3332 9 (12) "State", the state of Missouri and its departments, divisions, boards, bureaus, commissions, authorities, and colleges and universities;
(13) "Volunteer firefighter", a person having principal employment other than as a firefighter, but who is carried on the rolls of a regularly constituted fire department either for the purpose of the prevention or control of fire or the underwater recovery of drowning victims, the members of which are under the jurisdiction of the corporate authorities of a city, village, incorporated town, or fire protection district.
Volunteer firefighter shall not mean an individual who volunteers assistance without being regularly enrolled as a firefighter.
3.
(1) A claim for compensation under this section shall be filed by survivors of the deceased with the division of workers' compensation not later than two years from the date of death of a public safety officer.
If a claim is made within two years of the date of death of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty, compensation shall be paid, if the division finds that the claimant is entitled to compensation under this section.
(2) The amount of compensation paid to the claimant shall be one hundred thousand dollars, subject to appropriation, for death occurring on or after June 19, 2009.
4.
Any compensation awarded under the provisions of this section shall be distributed as follows:
(1) To the surviving spouse of the public safety officer if there is no child who survived the public safety officer;
(2) Fifty percent to the surviving child, or children, in equal shares, and fifty percent to the surviving spouse if there is at least one child who survived the public safety officer, and a surviving spouse of the public safety officer;
(3) To the surviving child, or children, in equal shares, if there is no surviving spouse of the public safety officer;
(4) If there is no surviving spouse of the public safety officer and no surviving child:
(a) To the surviving individual, or individuals, in shares per the designation or, otherwise, in equal shares, designated by the public safety officer to receive benefits under this subsection in the most recently executed designation of beneficiary of the public safety officer on file at the time of death with the public safety agency, organization, or unit;
or (b) To the surviving individual, or individuals, in equal shares, designated by the public safety officer to receive benefits under the most recently executed life insurance policy of the public safety officer on file at the time of death with the public safety agency, organization, or unit if there is no individual qualifying under paragraph (a) of this subdivision;
(5) To the surviving parent, or parents, in equal shares, of the public safety officer if there is no individual qualifying under subdivision (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection;
or HCS HB 3332 10 (6) To the surviving individual, or individuals, in equal shares, who would qualify under the definition of the term "child" but for age if there is no individual qualifying under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this subsection.
5.
Notwithstanding subsection 3 of this section, no compensation is payable under this section unless a claim is filed within the time specified under this section setting forth:
(1) The name, address, and title or designation of the position in which the public safety officer was serving at the time of his or her death;
(2) The name and address of the claimant;
(3) A full, factual account of the circumstances resulting in or the course of events causing the death at issue;
and (4) Such other information that is reasonably required by the division.
When a claim is filed, the division of workers' compensation shall make an investigation for substantiation of matters set forth in the application.
6.
The compensation provided for under this section is in addition to, and not exclusive of, any pension rights, death benefits, or other compensation the claimant may otherwise be entitled to by law.
7.
Neither employers nor workers' compensation insurers shall have subrogation rights against any compensation awarded for claims under this section.
Such compensation shall not be assignable, shall be exempt from attachment, garnishment, and execution, and shall not be subject to setoff or counterclaim, or be in any way liable for any debt, except that the division or commission may allow as lien on the compensation, reasonable attorney's fees for services in connection with the proceedings for compensation if the services are found to be necessary.
Such fees are subject to regulation as set forth in section 287.260.
8.
Any person seeking compensation under this section who is aggrieved by the decision of the division of workers' compensation regarding his or her compensation claim, may make application for a hearing as provided in section 287.450.
The procedures applicable to the processing of such hearings and determinations shall be those established by this chapter.
Decisions of the administrative law judge under this section shall be binding, subject to review by either party under the provisions of section 287.480.
9.
[Pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:
(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset on December 31, 2031, unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly;
and (2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section;
and HCS HB 3332 11 (3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.] This section shall not be subject to the provisions of the Missouri sunset act under sections 23.250 to 23.298.
10.
The provisions of this section, unless specified, shall not be subject to other provisions of this chapter.
11.
There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Line of Duty Compensation Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated to the fund and any voluntary contributions, gifts, or bequests to the fund.
The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and shall approve disbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180.
Upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely for paying claims under this section.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.
Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.
12.
The division shall promulgate rules to administer this section, including but not limited to the appointment of claims to multiple claimants, record retention, and procedures for information requests.
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.
This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly under chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after June 19, 2009, shall be invalid and void.
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Action History

  1. Referred: Rules - Administrative(H)

  2. HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 15 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 1

  3. HCS Voted Do Pass (H)

  4. Executive Session Completed (H)

  5. Public Hearing Completed (H)

  6. Referred: Crime and Public Safety(H)

  7. Read Second Time (H)

  8. Introduced and Read First Time (H)

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 198 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (198)

198 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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Subjects

public-safety labor
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 3332?
HB 3332 is sponsored by Mark Matthiesen (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 3332?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced February 18, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
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