Missouri State Laws
✅ Law #1: SB 121 — County Option for “Right-to-Work” Laws
Law / Bill: Senate Bill 121 (Missouri, 2025) (Missouri Senate)
Official Title: An act that prohibits employers from requiring employees to become or refrain from becoming members of a labor organization or pay dues or other charges required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. (Missouri Senate)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Missouri Senate)
📝 What It Does
Allows counties in Missouri to decide whether they want “right-to-work” protections in place. In those counties, workers can’t be forced (as a requirement of employment) to join a union or pay union dues/fees. (Missouri Senate)
Violations are class C misdemeanors; people harmed by violations (or threatened) can seek injunctions and damages. Prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General enforce it. (Missouri Senate)
💰 Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget
Low to moderate: administrative costs for enforcement (Attorney General, County Prosecutors). (Missouri Senate)
Possibly fewer costs related to union negotiations / dues collection where counties adopt right-to-work.
👥 Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: Employees in counties that choose right-to-work: they can decline union membership and dues.
Affects: Unions may lose dues/revenue; some workers may have less collective bargaining strength.
Counties: must choose whether to adopt, and then manage local implications.
⚙️ Who Sponsored / Initiated It
Missouri Legislature (SB 121) passed in the 2025 session. (Missouri Senate)
⚠️ Who Opposed / Concerns Raised
Unions / labor rights groups likely opposed, concerned about weakening unions, worker protections.
Some may say that forcing counties to decide creates patchwork of protections across the state.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
✅ Pros:
Gives workers more choice about union membership and dues.
Potentially attracts employers who prefer right-to-work environments.
❌ Cons:
Could weaken labor unions and bargaining power for employees.
Might reduce wages or benefits in some workforces.
Creates inconsistent rights among counties.
🗳️ The Ballot Beacon Takeaway
SB 121 gives Missouri counties the power to adopt right-to-work protections, letting workers opt out of mandatory union membership and dues in those counties — more freedom for some, but potential weakening of unions and worker bargaining.
✅ Law #2: HB 567 — Repeal of Paid Sick Leave Mandate & Ending Future Minimum Wage CPI-Tied Increases
Law / Bill: House Bill 567 (Missouri, 2025) (Ogletree)
Official Title: Legislation repealing the earned paid sick time statute (passed under Proposition A) and eliminating future minimum wage increases tied to inflation (CPI) as mandated by that proposition. (Ogletree)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Ogletree)
📝 What It Does
Removes the legal requirement for employers to provide paid sick leave that had been established via voter-approved Proposition A. (Ogletree)
Also eliminates future automatic minimum wage increases based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The $15 minimum wage remains, but wage increases won’t adjust with inflation after this repeal. (Missouri Chamber)
💰 Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget
Likely savings for businesses (less mandated sick leave, predictable wage costs). (Missouri Chamber)
Minimal direct state cost (this is a removal of mandate, not a spending program).
👥 Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: Employers who found the paid sick leave and inflation-tied wage increases financially burdensome.
Affects: Workers who rely on paid sick leave and those expecting wage growth via CPI adjustments.
⚙️ Who Sponsored / Initiated It
Missouri Legislature; HB 567 was a top priority for business groups / chamber of commerce. (Missouri Chamber)
⚠️ Who Opposed / Concerns Raised
Employee rights advocates: argued that repealing sick time harms workers’ health, job security.
Critics say workers lose protections voters approved.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
✅ Pros:
More stable, predictable costs for employers.
Reduces regulatory burden.
Some see it as restoring legislative control over wage mandates rather than inflation index formulas.
❌ Cons:
Workers lose legally required paid sick leave; no protection if sick.
Wage stagnation risk if inflation rises but wages don’t follow.
May reduce morale or increase turnover in sectors with high sick leave need.
🗳️ The Ballot Beacon Takeaway
HB 567 strips away Missouri’s mandatory paid sick leave and stops future wage hikes tied to inflation, effective August 28, 2025 — easing costs for employers, but reducing safeguards and income growth for workers.
✅ Law #3: SB 150 — Adult High School Enrollment & Workforce Development Adjustments
Law / Bill: SB 150 (Missouri, 2025) (Missouri Senate)
Official Title: Act that “...creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to workforce development initiatives” including lowering the age required to enroll in adult high school from 21 to 18 years old. (Missouri Senate)
Effective: August 28, 2025 (Missouri Senate)
📝 What It Does
Lowers the minimum age for adult high school enrollment from 21 to 18. (Missouri Senate)
Also requires adult high schools to offer job placement services, and sets rules so students transferring from local education agencies won’t be counted as drop-outs. (Missouri Senate)
💰 Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget
Some cost for education agencies/schools to provide job-placement services and adjust enrollment policies. (Missouri Senate)
Moderate cost for outreach and administrative change.
👥 Who It Helps / Affects
Helps: 18- to 20-year-olds who couldn’t access adult high school before. Gives them chance to catch up on GED-style credentials and job placement.
Affects: Adult high schools (must meet new standards); public school systems (transfer students are no longer “drop-outs”).
⚙️ Who Sponsored / Initiated It
Missouri Legislature as part of workforce development / education reform bills. (Missouri Senate)
⚠️ Who Opposed / Concerns Raised
Some may worry about the readiness of students younger than 21 for adult high school environments.
Funding / staffing burdens for adult education providers.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
✅ Pros:
More inclusive: helps younger adults who may have dropped out or haven’t finished high school.
Job placement adds practical support, not just coursework.
Reduces “dropout” stigma for students who transfer.
❌ Cons:
Funding and resource demands for adult education programs.
Possible challenges in serving a more diverse age group.
Implementation delays could undercut benefits.
🗳️ The Ballot Beacon Takeaway
SB 150 lowers adult high school eligibility to age 18 in Missouri and adds job placement support — offering more paths forward for younger adults, but needing investment and management to succeed.
✅ Law #4: SB 4 — Energy Infrastructure Modernization Law
Law / Bill: Senate Bill 4 (Missouri, 2025) (Stateside)
Official Title: A law to modernize Missouri’s energy infrastructure, support long-term economic growth, improve reliability, reduce dependence on out-of-state/foreign energy, and maintain affordability. (Stateside)
Effective: Signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe on April 9, 2025. (Stateside)
📝 What It Does
Upgrades energy infrastructure in Missouri: likely includes incentives, regulatory reforms, grid modernization, perhaps support for renewables and reducing transmission bottlenecks. (Stateside)
Aims to make energy supply more reliable, reduce risk of outages, and reduce reliance on imported energy. (Stateside)
💰 Cost to Taxpayers / State Budget
Significant investment likely required in infrastructure (grids, utilities).
Possible public/private partnerships; cost spread over time.
👥 Who It Helps / Affects
Utility companies, energy producers, grid operators (they implement upgrades).
Consumers (residents, businesses) who benefit from more stable energy supply.
Industries sensitive to energy costs / reliability.
⚙️ Who Sponsored / Initiated It
Missouri Legislature; supported by Gov. Kehoe and pro-business stakeholders. (Stateside)
⚠️ Who Opposed / Concerns Raised
Concerns may come from rate payers if costs are passed through.
Utility regulation / oversight concerns: fairness, environmental impact.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
✅ Pros:
Improves energy reliability, long-term cost savings by preventing outages or inefficiencies.
Strengthens economic competitiveness (businesses need stable power).
Could reduce environmental impacts if renewables or efficient tech included.
❌ Cons:
Upfront costs are high.
Possible rate increases for consumers during transition.
Regulatory/implementation risk: delayed or partial fulfillment could undermine goals.
🗳️ The Ballot Beacon Takeaway
SB 4 pushes Missouri forward with energy infrastructure upgrades as of April 2025 — aiming for more reliability and self-sufficiency, but asking consumers and stakeholders to invest in the transition.