Prohibits commercial services that provide a user with work submitted for educational credit in the user's name

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ed Lewis

HB 2271 bans commercial services from submitting coursework in a student’s name to earn educational credit, aiming to curb academic integrity violations.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

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Summary of HB 2271 (Missouri, 2026)

Purpose and intent

HB 2271 prohibits commercial services that provide a user with work submitted for educational credit in the user’s name. In short, the bill targets intermediaries or commercial vendors that assist students by submitting coursework or assignments on the student’s behalf to obtain academic credit.

Key provisions and changes

Prohibition scope: The bill makes it unlawful for commercial services to submit work in a student’s name for educational credit. This includes any service or entity that completes, curates, or otherwise facilitates submission of coursework or assignments on behalf of a student to earn credit or grades.

Enforcement and penalties: The bill establishes consequences for violations, potentially including civil or administrative penalties, though specific penalties (monetary fines, license/actions, or other remedies) are not stated in the provided summary. (The exact enforcement mechanisms would be detailed in the full text.)

Definitions: The measure defines terms related to “commercial services,” “work submitted for educational credit,” and related concepts to remove ambiguity about what constitutes prohibited activity.

Applicability: The provisions apply to entities offering these services within Missouri, and potentially to out-of-state or online providers if they target Missouri students, depending on the bill’s territorial reach and enforcement language.

Who/what is affected

Affected parties: Commercial entities that provide academic work submission services or similar assistance to students seeking educational credit under someone else’s name.

Potentially impacted students: Students who would otherwise rely on such services for submitting work; the bill aims to deter reliance on third-party submissions and preserve integrity of academic credit.

Educational institutions: Colleges and universities in Missouri may experience changes in how they address suspected improper submissions and in their enforcement of academic integrity policies, as well as cooperation with enforcement.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Referred to Emerging Issues (H) on May 15, 2026, indicating initial consideration by the House committee focused on issues of emerging concern.

Historical steps: Prefiled in December 2025; read in the House in January 2026 (First and Second Readings); subsequently referred on May 15, 2026.

Sponsorship: Co-sponsored by Ed Lewis, signaling political support or alignment within the sponsor’s caucus.

Additional notes

The summary reflects the bill’s stated prohibition on submitting work in a student’s name for educational credit and its general aim to curb academic integrity violations involving commercial services.

As with most bills, the final text will specify exact definitions, penalties, exceptions (if any), enforcement authority, and administrative procedures. Readers seeking practical implications should review the full statutory language and any fiscal notes once available.