Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri SB998: Creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program
Status: In committee, May 15, 2026
SCS/SB 998 - This act creates, repeals, and modifies provisions of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. The act changes the definition of "illegal alien" to "legal resident" as set forth under federal law. The act modifies the definition of "qualified student" by removing the requirement for a qualified student to have attended a public school during the previous 12 months, as well as removing requirements relating to students' kindergarten eligibility and siblings who participate in the program. Such definition is further modified by adding dyslexia and disability diagnoses to requirements concerning individualized education plans. The act provides that an organization representing a group of parents of qualified students may intervene on behalf of such parents as a defendant in any action in which any provision of state law, the Missouri Constitution, or a state regulation involving the program is at issue. An organization that intervenes as provided in the act shall have the right to file such pleading necessary on behalf of such parents. Finally, except as specifically provided in state law, the act prohibits the creation or enforcement of any rule, regulation, or other requirement that conditions a qualified school's participation in the program on accreditation or compliance with any other requirement. Any rule, regulation, or other requirement that violates this provision is void and shall have no force or effect. OLIVIA SHANNON
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 103RD GENERA L ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR HUDSON. 4362S.02I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary To repeal sections 166.700 and 166.720, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to empowerment scholarship accounts. Section A. Sections 166.700 and 166.720, RSMo, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 166.700, 166.719, and 166.720, to read as follows: 166.700. As used in sections 166.700 to 166.720, the following terms mean: (1) "Curriculum", a complete course of study for a particular content area or grade level, including any supplemental materials; (2) "District", the same meaning as used in section 160.011; (3) "Educational assistance organization", the same meaning as used in section 135.712; (4) ["Illegal alien", any person who is not lawfully present in the United States or any person who gained illegal entry into the United States] "Legal resident", any person who is lawfully present in the United States, according to the terms of 8 U.S.C. Section 1101, et seq.; (5) "Parent", the same meaning as used in section 135.712; EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted in the law. SB 998 (6) "Private school", a school that is not a part of the public school system of the …