COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
OVERSIGHT DIVISION
FISCAL NOTE
L.R. No.:0088S.03I Bill No.:SB 56 Subject:Attorney General; Education, Elementary and Secondary; Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education; Liability
Type:Original Date:February 9, 2025Bill Summary:This proposal prohibits diversity-equity-inclusion requirements in school
districts and charter schools.
FISCAL SUMMARY
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON GENERAL REVENUE FUNDFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net
Effect on General
Revenue $0$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON OTHER STATE FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net
Effect on Other State
Funds $0$0$0
Numbers within parentheses: () indicate costs or losses. L.R. No. 0088S.03I
Bill No. SB 56
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February 9, 2025
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ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FEDERAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net
Effect on All Federal
Funds $0$0$0
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON FULL TIME EQUIVALENT (FTE)FUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Total Estimated Net
Effect on FTE 000
☒ Estimated Net Effect (expenditures or reduced revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any
of the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
☐ Estimated Net Effect (savings or increased revenues) expected to exceed $250,000 in any of
the three fiscal years after implementation of the act or at full implementation of the act.
ESTIMATED NET EFFECT ON LOCAL FUNDSFUND AFFECTEDFY 2026FY 2027FY 2028Local Government$0 to (Unknown)$0 to (Unknown)$0 to (Unknown)
*Oversight assumes public schools and charter schools will bear the cost of any litigation or
judgment. Oversight will range the fiscal impact to public schools and charter schools from $0 to
an unknown cost for damages and court costs. L.R. No. 0088S.03I
Bill No. SB 56
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February 9, 2025
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FISCAL ANALYSIS
ASSUMPTION
162.1550 - Prohibits diversity-equity-inclusion requirements in school districts and charter
schools.
Officials from the Office of Attorney General (AGO)
arising from this proposal can be absorbed with existing resources. However, the AGO may seek
additional appropriations if the proposal results in a significant increase in litigation or
investigation.
Oversight does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight assumes the
AGO will be able to perform any additional duties required by this proposal with current staff
and resources and will reflect no fiscal impact to the AGO for fiscal note purposes.
Oversight notes that this provision may prompt a cause of action against public schools and
charter schools for violations of this proposal. Oversight assumes public schools and charter
schools will bear the cost of any litigation or judgment. Oversight will range the fiscal impact to
public schools and charter schools from $0 (does not increase litigation) to an unknown cost for
damages and court costs.
Officials from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of the State
Public Defender, Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, and the Office of State Courts
Administrator assume the proposal will have no fiscal impact on their organization. Oversight
does not have any information to the contrary. Therefore, Oversight will reflect a zero impact in
the fiscal note for these agencies.
FISCAL IMPACT – State GovernmentFY 2026
(10 Mo.)
FY 2027FY 2028$0$0$0FISCAL IMPACT – Local GovernmentFY 2026
(10 Mo.)
FY 2027FY 2028SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Cost – school districts – Legal Fees
$0 to
(Unknown)
$0 to
(Unknown)
$0 to
(Unknown)
NET EFFECT ON SCHOOLS AND
DISTRICTS
$0 to
(Unknown)
$0 to
(Unknown)
$0 to
(Unknown) L.R. No. 0088S.03I
Bill No. SB 56
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February 9, 2025
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FISCAL IMPACT – Small Business
No direct fiscal impact to small businesses would be expected as a result of this proposal.
FISCAL DESCRIPTION
This act establishes provisions relating to diversity-equity-inclusion requirements in school
districts and charter schools. The act defines diversity-equity-inclusion or "DEI" as education or
training requirements, policies, or programs on the subjects of antiracism, implicit bias, or any
other related instructions that promote differential treatment based on race, gender, religion,
ethnicity, and sexual preference, but not including instruction on state and federal laws
prohibiting discrimination.
The act prohibits school districts and charter schools from requiring students, employees, and
prospective employees to ascribe to, study, be instructed with, or answer questions relating to
DEI, as set forth in the act. The act further prohibits school districts and charter schools from
offering any student, employee, or prospective employee any incentive, benefit, grant, or other
compensation for receiving any instruction or professional development relating to DEI, except
in cases where the same incentive, benefit, grant, or compensation is equally available to
individuals who are not involved in the DEI instruction or professional development. A school
district or charter school shall not reward or give any advantage to any employee or job applicant
for any statement advocating DEI ideologies in employment-related decisions. Finally,
employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents of a school district or charter school shall
not be required to ascribe to, study, or be instructed with DEI ideologies or materials.
The Attorney General or the prosecuting or circuit attorney in the county in which a violation of
the act occurs may bring a cause of action against any school district or charter school that
violates the act. An attorney acting on behalf of a school district or charter school may request an
opinion of the Attorney General as to whether a particular training material or instructional or
curricular material complies with the provisions of the act. A parent of a student enrolled in a
school district or charter school may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief
or for damages, against the school district or charter school for any violation of the act that
causes harm to such parent's child.
This legislation is not federally mandated, would not duplicate any other program and would not
require additional capital improvements or rental space.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Attorney General’s Office
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of the State Public Defender L.R. No. 0088S.03I
Bill No. SB 56
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February 9, 2025
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Missouri Office of Prosecution Services
Office of the State Courts Administrator
Julie MorffJessica HarrisDirectorAssistant DirectorFebruary 9, 2025February 9, 2025