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HB 1638

Modifies provisions relating to the Alzheimer's state plan task force

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marty Murray and 1 co-sponsor

Extends and broadens Missouri’s Alzheimer's Task Force to 2033, adds members, reshapes appointments, and requires coordinated state plans and periodic reports to address dementia.

Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 17 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
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Bill Summary · HB 1638

Summary of HB 1638 (2026) – Missouri: Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force

Purpose and intent

HB 1638 proposes changes to the statutory framework governing Missouri’s Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force. The bill extends the lifespan of the task force, expands its membership, adjusts appointment procedures, and clarifies reporting requirements. The overarching aim is to continue and strengthen state-level planning and coordination to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Key provisions and changes

  • Expiration and duration

    • Repeals the current expiration date and enacts a new expiration: December 31, 2033 (formerly December 31, 2027).

  • Membership and composition

    • Increases the number of task force members from 21 to 22.
    • Adds a new category: one member representing licensed assisted living facilities.
    • Maintains a broad set of representation, including: lieutenant governor (chair), department directors, legislators (appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate), individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s or related dementia, family caregivers, a licensed physician with expertise in Alzheimer’s, representatives from state ombudsman, long-term care facilities, home care, adult day services, area agencies on aging, minority health expertise, law enforcement, higher education/workforce development, two representatives from voluntary health organizations, skilled nursing facilities, and Missouri veterans’ homes.

  • Appointment and terms

    • Current Senate advice-and-consent requirement for gubernatorial appointments would be repealed; appointments would be made by the governor without Senate confirmation.
    • For members appointed before August 28, 2025, their terms expire December 31, 2025; thereafter, most new appointments have two-year terms, with a staggered scheme for initial post-2025 appointments:
    • Subdivisions 5–13 (early-stage individuals, caregivers, physicians, ombudsman, facility representations, home care, etc.) serve one-year terms initially.
    • Subdivisions 14–19 (minority health, law enforcement, higher education/workforce development, two voluntary health organizations, veterans’ facilities) serve two-year terms.
    • Vacancies are filled for the remainder of the term.
    • Some early-appointee categories are exempt from the two-year-term scheme.

  • Scope and duties

    • The task force shall assess all state programs addressing Alzheimer's disease and maintain an integrated state plan with implementation steps and priority recommendations.
    • Required focus areas include:
    • Current and future impact on Missourians.
    • Evaluation of existing services and resources for patients and families.
    • Recommendations to address the escalating public health crisis.
    • Inclusion of ethnic and racial populations at higher risk to reduce disparities.
    • Opportunities for Missouri-federal coordination.
    • Cross-agency coordination of research and services.
    • Review of dementia-specific training across health care, protective services, law enforcement, and related staff.
    • Strategies to increase diagnostic rates in Missouri.

  • Reporting requirements

    • The task force must deliver a report of recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2029, and every five years thereafter, reflecting findings and any additional assessments since the last report.
    • Ongoing meetings may be held upon the chair’s request, with annual supplemental report updates to the governor and General Assembly.

Who is affected

  • State government agencies involved in health, aging, social services, mental health, and higher education.
  • Alzheimer's patients and their families, caregivers, and providers (care facilities, home care, adult day services, etc.).
  • Ethnic and minority communities disproportionately affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Law enforcement, protective services, and healthcare professionals who interact with individuals with Alzheimer’s/dementia.
  • Governor and General Assembly, which receive periodic policy recommendations and progress reports.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Expiration moved from 2027 to 2033.
  • A new eligibility and term framework introduces staggered terms for post-2025 appointees.
  • Senate confirmation for gubernatorial appointments to this task force is repealed, altering traditional legislative oversight.
  • Initial extended reporting deadline set for 2029, with subsequent reports every five years.
  • Fiscal note indicates no net state or local funding impact identified in the provided analysis, though one organization notes modest ongoing staff time related to task force work.

Overall, HB 1638 preserves and broadens the Alzheimer's State Plan Task Force, extends its mandate, and shifts appointment governance while mandating coordinated, periodic policy guidance to address Alzheimer’s disease in Missouri.

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

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