JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri House of Representatives has approved a significant piece of comprehensive legislation focused on updating and modernizing existing statutes, significantly reducing complexity and removing outdated provisions related to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. This bill, sponsored by State Representative Willard Haley, received overwhelming support with a 147-0 vote and is poised to make impactful changes in the state’s educational and workforce landscape.
HB 2650 targets the modernization of existing statutes to better align with the evolving needs of Missouri’s education and workforce sectors. Notably, the legislation aims to enhance governance structures within the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, reflecting current practices and priorities. Key highlights of HB 2650 include:
- Name Changes: The bill proposes renaming the “Division of Workforce Development in the Department of Economic Development” to the “Office of Workforce Development in the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development,” streamlining administrative functions for improved efficiency.
- Program Renaming: Under Section 620.515 RSMo, the “Show-Me-Heroes” program will be rebranded as “Missouri Heroes Connect,” demonstrating a renewed commitment to supporting Missouri’s heroic individuals.
- Statute Repeals: HB 2650 repeals outdated statutes associated with programs such as the “Career Readiness Course Task Force,” graduate student teaching assignments, the “Missouri Guaranteed Student Loan Program,” and several others that have become obsolete or expired.
“This comprehensive reform spans 50 pages, eliminating 36 pages of obsolete material from our state statutes. This legislative effort is about cleaning up our language and ensuring our statutes reflect current needs. This legislation represents a forward-thinking approach to address the changing needs of our education and workforce systems,” Haley, R-Eldon, remarked. “Obsolete programs and expired grants are being removed, making way for more effective initiatives. By modernizing governance structures and removing outdated programs, we are paving the way for a more efficient and effective educational landscape that better serves our students and communities.”
The passage of HB 2650 underscores a bipartisan commitment to advancing educational opportunities and workforce development initiatives throughout the state while removing obsolete and unnecessary rules and programs. The bill will now proceed to the Missouri Senate for further consideration.
Representative Willard Haley, a Republican, represents District 58, which consists of Morgan and Moniteau counties and a small portion of Cooper County, in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in the general election of November 2020. For more information, please contact Rep. Haley’s office at 573-751-2077 or by email at Willard.Haley@House.Mo.Gov.