Text of MO SB 160 (2025)

FIRST REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 160 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HUDSON. 1382S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 173, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to student associations at public institutions of higher learning. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 173, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 two new sections, to be known as sections 173.1555 and 173.1556, 2 to read as follows: 3 173.1555. As used in this section and section 1 173.1556, the following terms mean: 2 (1) "Adverse action", any action or policy that denies 3 a belief-based student association any benefit available to 4 other student associations or organizations or that 5 otherwise discriminates with respect to any such benefit; 6 (2) "Belief-based student association" includes, but 7 is not limited to, any political or ideological student 8 association or any religious student association; 9 (3) "Benefit", recognition, registration, the use of 10 facilities of a public institution of higher learning for 11 meetings or speaking purposes, the use of channels of 12 communication of a public institution of higher learning, or 13 such other assistance, aid, or advantage as is made 14 available to student associations by a public institution of 15 higher learning; 16 (4) "Public institution of higher learning", any state 17 postsecondary educational institution governed or supervised 18 SB 160 2 by a board erected under chapter 172, 174, 175, or 178; a 19 board of trustees of a community college; or any state board 20 for any other technical school. 21 173.1556. 1. (1) No public institution of higher 1 learning shall take any adverse action against a belief- 2 based student association or an applicant to be recognized 3 as such: 4 (a) Because such association is political, 5 ideological, or religious; 6 (b) On the basis of such association's viewpoint or 7 expression of the viewpoint by the association or the 8 association's members; or 9 (c) Based on such association's requirement that the 10 association's leaders be committed to furthering the 11 association's mission or that the association's leaders 12 adhere to the association's sincerely held beliefs, sincere 13 practice requirements, or sincere standards of conduct. 14 (2) Leaders referred to in paragraph (c) of 15 subdivision (1) of this subsection shall include, but not be 16 limited to, any person who holds a position within the 17 association that authorizes such person to participate in 18 the leadership or governance of the association or in 19 establishing criteria for the association's leadership or 20 governance. 21 (3) The mission, beliefs, practice requirements, and 22 standards of conduct referred to in paragraph (c) of 23 subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be interpreted as 24 defined by the association. 25 2. Any belief-based student association or applicant 26 to be recognized as such that has been aggrieved as a result 27 of a violation or threatened violation of subsection 1 of 28 this section may assert that violation or threatened 29 SB 160 3 violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding or 30 in an administrative proceeding involving the public 31 institution of higher learning and obtain appropriate relief. 32 

EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law. FIRST REGULAR SESSION [TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED] CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 160 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2025 1382S.06T AN ACT To repeal sections 172.280, 174.160, and 578.365, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof six new sections relating to educational institutions, with penalty provisions. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Sections 172.280, 174.160, and 578.365, RSMo, 1 are repealed and six new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to 2 be known as sections 160.082, 172.280, 173.1555, 173.1556, 3 174.160, and 578.365, to read as follows: 4 160.082. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1 cited as the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World 2 for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act". 3 2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 4 (1) "Educational institution", any public or private 5 prekindergarten program, public or private elementary or 6 secondary school, or public or private school board or other 7 school administrative body; 8 (2) "Protective hairstyles", includes, but is not 9 limited to, such hairstyles and coverings that are designed 10 to protect textured hair from damage so it may be worn in 11 its natural state as braids, locks, twists, and afros; 12 CCS HCS SS SB 160 2 (3) "Race", includes a perception that a person is of 13 a particular racial group based upon shared physical traits 14 associated with ancestral origin or ethnicity, shared 15 cultural attributes, and similar physical characteristics 16 such as skin color and facial features; 17 (4) "State financial assistance", any funds or other 18 form of financial aid appropriated or authorized under the 19 laws of this state, or under any federal law administered by 20 any state agency, for the purpose of providing assistance to 21 any educational institution for its own benefit or for the 22 benefit of any pupils admitted to the educational 23 institution. "State financial assistance" shall include, 24 but not be limited to, all of the following: 25 (a) Grants of state property, or any interest therein; 26 (b) Provision of the services of state personnel; and 27 (c) Funds provided by contract, tax rebate, 28 appropriation, allocation, or formula; 29 (5) "State student financial aid", any funds or other 30 form of financial aid appropriated or authorized under the 31 laws of this state, or under any federal law administered by 32 any state agency, for the purpose of providing assistance 33 directly to any student admitted to an educational 34 institution. "State student financial aid" shall include, 35 but not be limited to, scholarships, loans, grants, or wages. 36 3. No person shall be subjected to discrimination 37 based on the person's hair texture or protective hairstyle, 38 if that protective hairstyle or texture is commonly 39 associated with a particular race or origin, in any program 40 or activity conducted by an educational institution that 41 receives or benefits from state financial assistance or 42 enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid; 43 provided, however, that such institution may require the use 44 CCS HCS SS SB 160 3 of hair nets or coverings or may require that hair be 45 secured for safety purposes in any career and technical 46 training course or class to comply with safety regulations 47 and standards of the course or class throughout the duration 48 of the course or class. 49 4. The provisions of subsection 3 of this section 50 shall not apply to an educational institution that is 51 controlled by a religious organization if the application of 52 such provision would not be consistent with the religious 53 tenets of that organization. 54 172.280. The curators shall have the authority to 1 confer, by diploma, under their common seal, on any person 2 whom they may judge worthy thereof, such degrees as are 3 known to and usually granted by any college or university. 4 The University of Missouri is the state's only public 5 research university [and the exclusive grantor of research 6 doctorates]. As such, [except as provided in section 7 175.040,] the University of Missouri shall be the only state 8 college or university that may offer research doctorates, 9 doctor of philosophy degrees, or first-professional degrees, 10 including dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and 11 veterinary medicine, except as provided in sections 174.160 12 and 175.040. 13 173.1555. As used in this section and section 1 173.1556, the following terms mean: 2 (1) "Adverse action", any action or policy that denies 3 a belief-based student association any benefit available to 4 other student associations or organizations or that 5 otherwise discriminates with respect to any such benefit; 6 (2) "Belief-based student association" includes, but 7 is not limited to, any political or ideological student 8 association or any religious student association; 9 CCS HCS SS SB 160 4 (3) "Benefit", recognition, registration, the use of 10 facilities of a public institution of higher learning for 11 meetings or speaking purposes, the use of channels of 12 communication of a public institution of higher learning, or 13 such other assistance, aid, or advantage as is made 14 available to student associations by a public institution of 15 higher learning; 16 (4) "Public institution of higher learning", any state 17 postsecondary educational institution governed or supervised 18 by a board erected under chapter 172, 174, 175, or 178; a 19 board of trustees of a community college; or any state board 20 for any other technical school. 21 173.1556. 1. (1) No public institution of higher 1 learning shall take any adverse action against a belief- 2 based student association or an applicant to be recognized 3 as such: 4 (a) Because such association is political, 5 ideological, or religious; 6 (b) On the basis of such association's viewpoint or 7 expression of the viewpoint by the association or the 8 association's members; or 9 (c) Based on such association's requirement that the 10 association's leaders be committed to furthering the 11 association's mission or that the association's leaders 12 adhere to the association's sincerely held beliefs, sincere 13 practice requirements, or sincere standards of conduct. 14 (2) Leaders referred to in paragraph (c) of 15 subdivision (1) of this subsection shall include, but not be 16 limited to, any person who holds a position within the 17 association that authorizes such person to participate in 18 the leadership or governance of the association or in 19 CCS HCS SS SB 160 5 establishing criteria for the association's leadership or 20 governance. 21 (3) The mission, beliefs, practice requirements, and 22 standards of conduct referred to in paragraph (c) of 23 subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be interpreted as 24 defined by the association. 25 2. Any belief-based student association or applicant 26 to be recognized as such that has been aggrieved as a result 27 of a violation or threatened violation of subsection 1 of 28 this section may assert that violation or threatened 29 violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding or 30 in an administrative proceeding involving the public 31 institution of higher learning and obtain appropriate relief. 32 3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a 33 belief-based student association if there is substantial 34 evidence that such association's viewpoint or expression of 35 the viewpoint by the association or the association's 36 members would cause a material and substantial disruption to 37 the educational environment or interfere with the rights of 38 others on campus, in accordance with the United States 39 Supreme Court's decision in Healy v. James, 408 U.S. 169 40 (1972). 41 174.160. 1. The board of regents of each state 1 college and each state teachers college shall have power and 2 authority to confer upon students, by diploma under the 3 common seal, such degrees as are usually granted by such 4 colleges, and additional degrees only when authorized by the 5 coordinating board for higher education in circumstances in 6 which offering such degree would not unnecessarily duplicate 7 an existing program, collaboration is not feasible or a 8 viable means of meeting the needs of students and employers, 9 and the institution has the academic and financial capacity 10 CCS HCS SS SB 160 6 to offer the program in a high-quality manner. In the case 11 of nonresearch doctoral degrees in allied health 12 professions, an institution may be authorized to offer such 13 degree independently if offering it in collaboration with 14 another institution would not increase the quality of the 15 program or allow it to be delivered more efficiently. Such 16 boards shall have the power and authority to confer degrees 17 in engineering only in collaboration with the University of 18 Missouri, provided that such collaborative agreements are 19 approved by the governing board of each institution and that 20 in these instances the University of Missouri will be the 21 degree-granting institution. Should the University of 22 Missouri decline to collaborate in the offering of such 23 programs, one of these institutions may seek approval of the 24 program through the coordinating board for higher 25 education's comprehensive review process when doing so would 26 not unnecessarily duplicate an existing program, 27 collaboration is not feasible or a viable means of meeting 28 the needs of students and employers, and the institution has 29 the academic and financial capacity to offer the program in 30 a high-quality manner. 31 2. Notwithstanding sections 172.280 and 174.225 to the 32 contrary, the board of governors of Missouri State 33 University shall have the power and authority to grant 34 doctor of philosophy degrees in disciplines other than 35 engineering and to grant bachelor of science degrees in 36 veterinary technology. 37 578.365. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1 cited as "Danny's Law". 2 2. A person commits the offense of hazing if he or she 3 knowingly, actively, and not under duress participates in, 4 solicits another person to participate in, or causes or 5 CCS HCS SS SB 160 7 plans a willful act, occurring on or off the campus of a 6 public or private college or university, directed against a 7 student or a prospective member, current member, or former 8 member of an organization operating under the sanction of a 9 public or private college or university, that recklessly 10 endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a 11 student or prospective member, current member, or former 12 member for the purpose of initiation or admission into or 13 continued membership in any such organization to the extent 14 that such person is knowingly placed at probable risk of the 15 loss of life or probable bodily or psychological harm. Acts 16 of hazing include: 17 (1) Any activity which recklessly endangers the 18 physical health or safety of the student or prospective 19 member, current member, or former member, including but not 20 limited to physical brutality, whipping, beating, branding, 21 exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, 22 liquor, drug or other substance, or forced smoking or 23 chewing of tobacco products; 24 (2) Any activity which recklessly endangers the mental 25 health of the student or prospective member, current member, 26 or former member, including but not limited to sleep 27 deprivation, physical confinement, or other extreme stress- 28 inducing activity; or 29 (3) Any activity that requires the student or 30 prospective member, current member, or former member to 31 perform a duty or task which involves a violation of the 32 criminal laws of this state or any political subdivision in 33 this state. 34 [2.] 3. Public or private colleges or universities in 35 this state shall adopt a written policy prohibiting hazing 36 CCS HCS SS SB 160 8 by any organization operating under the sanction of the 37 institution. 38 [3.] 4. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted 39 as creating a new private cause of action against any 40 educational institution. 41 [4.] 5. Consent is not a defense to hazing. Section 42 565.010 does not apply to hazing cases or to homicide cases 43 arising out of hazing activity. 44 [5.] 6. The offense of hazing is a class A 45 misdemeanor, unless the act creates a substantial risk to 46 the life of the student [or], prospective member, current 47 member, or former member, in which case it is a class D 48 felony. 49 7. A person shall not be guilty of the offense of 50 hazing if the person establishes all of the following: 51 (1) That he was present at an event where, as a result 52 of hazing, a person appeared to be in need of immediate 53 medical assistance; 54 (2) That he was the first person to call 911 or campus 55 security to report the need for immediate medical assistance; 56 (3) That he provided his own name, the address where 57 immediate medical assistance was needed, and a description 58 of the medical issue to the 911 operator or campus security 59 at the time of the call; and 60 (4) That he remained at the scene with the person in 61 need of immediate medical assistance until medical 62 assistance, law enforcement, or campus security arrived and 63 that he cooperated with such personnel on the scene. 64 8. Notwithstanding subsection 7 of this section to the 65 contrary, a person shall be immune from prosecution under 66 this section if the person establishes that the person 67 rendered aid to the hazing victim before medical assistance, 68 CCS HCS SS SB 160 9 law enforcement, or campus security arrived on the scene of 69 the hazing event. For purposes of this subsection, the term 70 "aid" includes, but is not limited to, rendering 71 cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the victim, clearing an 72 airway for the victim to breathe, using a defibrillator to 73 assist the victim, or rendering any other assistance to the 74 victim that the person intended in good faith to stabilize 75 or improve the victim's condition while waiting for medical 76 assistance, law enforcement, or campus security to arrive. 77 9. For purposes of this section, the term "former 78 member" means a person who is no longer affiliated with the 79 chapter of the organization operating under the sanction of 80 the public or private college or university, but who may be 81 affiliated with the national chapter of the organization. 82 