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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 2585 authorizes governor to approve workforce training programs for federal Pell grants
Last action · April 23, 2026: Reported Do Pass (H)Sponsor: David Casteel
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What This Bill Would Do
Missouri House Bill 2585 authorizes the governor, in consultation with the Missouri Workforce Development Board, to approve eligible workforce training programs for federal workforce Pell grants based on specific industry criteria. The measure outlines application and appeal processes, requires institutions to submit verifiable outcome data, and updates board governance rules.
Training providers and educational institutions seeking federal workforce Pell grant eligibility must now meet state-established criteria for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand sectors and submit verifiable completion and job placement data.
- The Missouri Workforce Development Board serves as the state's advisory board pertaining to workforce preparation policy and complies with the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Missouri Workforce Development Board
The board gains specific new statutory duties to evaluate and approve workforce training programs for federal Pell grants and establish application and appeal rules.
Educational institutions and training providers
Institutions must apply for program approval under new criteria and submit verifiable outcome data such as completion and job placement rates.
Workforce training program participants
Participants gain access to approved workforce training programs eligible for federal workforce Pell grants.
Key Facts
- The governor, in consultation with the Missouri Workforce Development Board, must approve eligible workforce training programs for federal workforce Pell grants if they prepare students for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand industry sectors or occupations.
- The Missouri Workforce Development Board must establish by rule a process for institutions and programs to apply for approval and to appeal denials.
- Approved workforce training programs are required to provide verifiable data demonstrating program outcomes, including completion rates, job placement rates, and earnings.
- The board is prohibited from operating programs or providing services directly to eligible participants, existing solely to plan, coordinate, and monitor programs.
Show all 8 facts
- Board members are prohibited from voting on matters concerning the provision of services by themselves or their represented entities or creating a financial conflict of interest.
- The board must submit an annual report of its activities to the governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and president pro tem of the senate no later than January 31st of each year.
- The Department of Economic Development must provide professional, technical, and clerical staff for the board.
- High-wage industry sectors or occupations are defined as those with earnings above 150 percent of the federal poverty level for individual earners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves workforce training programs for federal Pell grants under this bill?
What criteria must a workforce training program meet to qualify?
What data must participating institutions provide?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
12 actions- Apr 23, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Do Pass (H)
- Apr 20, 2026HouseCommitteeVoted Do Pass (H)
- Apr 20, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Apr 8, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Rules - Legislative(H)
- Mar 11, 2026HouseCommitteeHCS Reported Do Pass (H)
- Mar 10, 2026HouseCommitteeHCS Voted Do Pass (H)
Show 6 earlier actions
- Mar 10, 2026HouseExecutive Session Completed (H)
- Mar 3, 2026HousePublic Hearing Completed (H)
- Feb 26, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Higher Education and Workforce Development(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 29, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of State Role in Federal Workforce Grants
The legislation connects state-level board oversight directly to federal workforce Pell grant eligibility under Pub. L. 119-21.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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