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HB 3529

Designates June 28th each year as Eliot and Muriel Battle day

2026 Regular Session Introduced by David Smith

Designates June 28 as Eliot and Muriel Battle Day in Missouri to honor their roles in desegregation and promote racial harmony in Columbia schools.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 3529

Summary of HB 3529 (2026) – Missouri

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a ceremonial designation in Missouri designating June 28th each year as “Eliot and Muriel Battle Day.”
  • The day honors Eliot Battle, the first Black faculty member at Hickman High School in Columbia, and Muriel Battle, the first Black principal in the Columbia Public School District.
  • The bill notes the Battles’ efforts to ease racial tensions in the 1960s and acknowledges the impact by recognizing local schools named in their honor (Eliot Battle Elementary School and Muriel Williams Battle High School).

Key provisions

  • Amends Chapter 9 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo) by adding Section 9.516.
  • Section 9.516 designates June 28 each year as “Eliot and Muriel Battle Day” in Missouri.
  • Encourages citizens to participate in appropriate events and activities to celebrate the lives and contributions of Eliot and Muriel Battle.

Who or what would be affected

  • State recognition and observance: The designation creates a state-wide acknowledgement of June 28 as a commemorative day.
  • Civic/educational communities: Schools, districts, and local communities may hold events or activities to honor the Battles.
  • Public awareness: Highlights the historical contributions of the Battles to desegregation and racial harmony within the Columbia area.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Sponsor: Representative Smith (46) with House co-sponsor David Smith.
  • Action history:
    • 2026-02-27: Introduced and Read First Time.
    • 2026-03-02: Read Second Time, referred to Emerging Issues (H).
    • 2026-05-15: Referred to Emerging Issues (H) for potential consideration.
  • Effective date: The bill designates June 28 each year as the new observance; the practical effect would begin in the year following enactment, pending passage and signing into law.

Notable context

  • The bill is largely symbolic, creating a recurring annual day of observance rather than establishing new funding or regulatory requirements.
  • It aligns with prior recognitions of the Battle family’s leadership and impact on the Columbia Public Schools and local history.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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