Text of MO HJR 81 (2025)

FIRST REGULAR SESSION HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 81 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE COSTLOW. 2606H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk JOINT RESOLUTION Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Missouri, by adopting one new section relating to educational freedom. Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein: That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next 2 following the first Monday in November, 2026, or at a special election to be called by the 3 governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for 4 adoption or rejection, the following amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state of 5 Missouri: Section A. Article I, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adopting one new 2 section, to be known as Section 37, to read as follows: Section 37. That the government shall not deny or infringe upon a parent's 2 fundamental right to participate in and direct the education of his or her child. Such 3 right shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: 4 (1) The right to home school or otherwise educate a child outside of the public 5 school system free from any and all government regulation, restriction, or record- 6 keeping requirements, regardless of whether the parent receives state aid, grant moneys, 7 scholarship funds, or any other financial assistance or programming from the 8 government, either directly or indirectly, for purposes of educating a child; EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. 9 (2) The right to transparent access to the curricula and lesson plans of the public 10 school and school district in which a child is enrolled via the public school's or school 11 district's publicly accessible website; 12 (3) The right to educate a child in a public school that does not teach students or 13 train teachers or other staff members on: 14 (a) Critical race theory, as such term is defined by law, or any concept that 15 promotes the idea that an individual, by virtue of race, religion, or gender, is inherently 16 racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; or 17 (b) Diversity-equity-inclusion, as such term is defined by law, or any concept 18 that promotes differential treatment of individuals based on race, gender, religion, 19 ethnicity, or sexual preference, but not including equal opportunity or equal 20 employment opportunity instruction designed to inform individuals about the 21 prohibition on discrimination based on protected class under state and federal law; and 22 (4) The right to educate a child in a public school that is free from any 23 requirement to adopt or develop a curriculum designed to conform to any statewide 24 learning standards or academic performance standards defining the knowledge, skills, 25 and competencies students must achieve in each grade level and course. ✔ HJR 81 2