PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (Section 160.082) The act creates the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act", which governs discriminatory practices in elementary and secondary educational institutions as they relate to protective hairstyles. An "educational institution" is defined as including any public or private prekindergarten program, public or private elementary or secondary school, charter school, or public or private school board, charter school governing board, or other school administrative body. Under the act, educational institutions that receive state financial assistance or enroll students who receive state financial aid shall not discriminate based on a person’s hair texture or protective hairstyle if it is commonly associated with a particular race or origin. However, educational institutions may require hair nets, coverings, or secured hair for safety reasons in career and technical training courses, as needed to meet safety regulations. This provision shall not apply to an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization if the application of such provision would not be consistent with the religious tenets of that organization. This provision is identical to HB 284 (2025) and provisions in HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025) and HCS/HB 937 (2025), and is similar to SB 969 (2024), HCS/HBs 1900, 1591 & 2515 (2024), SCS/SB 424 (2023), HCS/HBs 930, 361, & 326 (2023), SB 994 (2022), HCS/HBs 1743 & 2185 (2022), SB 145 (2021), HB 282 (2021), HB 420 (2021), HB 503 (2021), HB 1066 (2021), HB 1309 (2021), HB 1314 (2021), HB 2356 (2020), and a provision in HB 250 (2025). AUTHORITY TO CONFER DEGREES (Sections 172.280 and 174.160) This act authorizes Missouri State University to grant Doctor of Philosophy degrees in disciplines other than engineering and to grant Bachelor of Science degrees in veterinary technology. These provisions are identical to provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025), HCS/SS/SB 38 (2025), and HCS/HB 606 (2025). STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS AT PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING (Sections 173.1555 and 173.1556)