A massive education bill that expands a private school scholarship program and opens up Boone County to charter schools squeaked out of the Missouri House and to the governor’s desk on Thursday, winning the bare minimum number of votes needed for passage.
The 153-page bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester, is estimated to cost taxpayers $468 million when fully implemented. It passed 82-69 and heads to Gov. Mike Parson. Three Democrats joined with 79 Republicans in support of the bill, with 45 Democrats and 24 Republicans voting against.
State Rep. Phil Christofanelli, a St. Peters Republican, carried the Senate bill and sponsored the legislation in 2021 that created the tax-credit scholarships, called MOScholars.
He said during Thursday’s debate that the bill combines his interest in the MOScholars program with investment in rural schools.
“We put together a package that serves all the diverse interests in education,” Christofanelli said.
The original bill was 12 pages, but negotiations in the Senate led to the inclusion of over a hundred pages of education legislation.
“We’re all going to take a step together,” Christofanelli said Thursday. “This is the most substantive investment in public education that this state has ever seen.”
Lawmakers filed 53 amendments prior to the vote, but none were allowed by GOP leadership to offer them for consideration.
Rep. Paula Brown, a Democrat from Hazelwood, said during debate that the Senate was controlling the process.
“This is an esteemed chamber, and we’re acting like we don’t matter,” she said.
Christofanelli said the Senate had listened to concerns, and amendments were made to another bill Wednesday to smooth over issues with the larger package.
“My concern was that if I did those changes on this bill and sent it back into the Senate, it would get caught in the abyss and we would never have a law at the end,” he said.
He gathered input from key lawmakers, and delivered suggestions to the Senate. Then, Wednesday evening, the Senate introduced and passed a new version of Christofanelli’s bill on full-time virtual schools.
The House passed this second bill, with the fixes, after approving the larger education package.
Although the bill has measures to boost teacher salaries and school-district funding, Democrats had concerns. Many focused on the estimated cost.
“This is a bill that has some great, shiny things that we like in exchange for some really bad (things),” said House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat. “But as we’ve talked about, the real problem with this bill is the amount of money we have.”
Democrats from Boone County also spoke against the addition of charter schools in their community.
State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Democrat from Columbia, called the bill “poison” to Boone County.
“Our schools are accredited. We don’t need this bill,” he said. “We are hanging on by a razor’s edge financially already. You bring charter schools into Boone County, which is what this bill specifically does, and it hurts us.”
As the final votes rolled in and the bill’s passage was assured, Koenig sat on the House dais, smiling as the bill he has called his top legislative priority made it across the finish line.
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Sheriff Jeff Crites with the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department has launched a community education series, and the Daily Journal is pleased to share it with our readers. This installment informs about Missouri’s “Book and Release” law.
In 2019 Missouri passed legislation that changed how certain arrests are handled. Think you know what it means? Let’s find out!
Be sure to read the full explanation at the end of the quiz.
Question 1:
Under Missouri’s Book and Release law, what happens to individuals arrested for nonviolent offenses like trespassing or shoplifting?
A) They are held in jail until trial
B) They are immediately released without any charges
C) They are booked, given a court date, and released without being held in jail
D) They must post bail before release
Question 2:
Who decides whether someone is released under this law?
A) The arresting officer
B) The local police department
C) The law itself – officers must follow the statute
D) The Mayor
Question 3:
What is the primary goal of the Book and Release policy?
A) Increase jail occupancy
B) Reduce paperwork for police
C) Minimize unnecessary pretrial detention for low-level offenses
D) Eliminate court appearances
Question 4:
True or False: The Book and Release law applies to all criminal offenses in Missouri.
________________________________________
Answers:
1. C – Individuals are processed (fingerprinted, photographed, etc.), given a court date, and released without being jailed.
2. C – Law enforcement does not make discretionary decisions about release; they are required to follow the statute.
3. C – The law aims to reduce strain on jails and avoid holding people unnecessarily for minor infractions.
4. False – It applies only to certain nonviolent, low-level offenses.
________________________________________
Did you get them all right?
Missouri’s Book and Release legislation was enacted as part of broader criminal justice reforms that took effect in 2019. Specifically, the Missouri Supreme Court implemented new rules that changed how arrests and pretrial procedures are handled for certain nonviolent offenses. These rules were designed to reduce pretrial detention and ensure that individuals charged with low-level crimes are not held in jail because they can’t afford bail.
Missouri’s Book and Release law applies to a specific set of nonviolent, low-level offenses, where the goal is to avoid unnecessary pretrial detention for individuals who pose little risk to public safety. While the law doesn’t list every offense by name, here’s a general breakdown of the types of crimes typically covered:
Common Offenses Eligible for Book and Release
• Trespassing
• Shoplifting or petty theft
• Driving with a suspended license
• Disorderly conduct
• Minor drug possession (e.g., small amounts of marijuana)
• Vandalism (low-dollar damage)
• Public intoxication
• Failure to appear (in some cases)
These offenses are usually classified as misdemeanors or ordinance violations, and the law mandates that officers issue a citation and release the individual after booking, rather than holding them in jail.
Offenses Not Covered
The law does not apply to:
• Violent crimes (e.g., assault, robbery, domestic violence)
• Felony-level offenses
• Crimes involving weapons or threats
• Repeat offenses that indicate a flight risk or danger to the public
Law enforcement does not decide who gets released. The statute itself determines eligibility, and officers are required to follow it. This ensures consistent treatment across jurisdictions and removes discretionary bias from the process.
This information is a factual explanation of Missouri law and established criminal‑procedure rules. The details provided reflect statutory requirements and Missouri Supreme Court mandates, not personal opinion or commentary.
Stay safe and take care!
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Highway Patrol issued a Silver Alert on Saturday for 78-year-old John Michael Culbertson, who was last seen in Raytown at about 11:30 a.m.
The highway patrol says Culbertson has dementia and wandered away from his home. They add that he has a history of eloping and has entered strangers’ homes in the past.
He’s a white man who is 5’10” and weighs 160 pounds. He has white hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a navy blue sun hat, dark blue shirt, and cut-off jeans. His home is on Northern Avenue near 53rd and Sterling.
If you’ve seen him or know where he is, call 911 or Raytown police at (816) 737-6020.
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