Bill > HB3022

This bill modifies provisions governing Missouri empowerment scholarship accounts, which are funds that can be used for educational expenses. Key changes include expanding the definition of a "qualified school" to include entities that do not discriminate based on religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national origin, and clarifying that a "qualified student" can be one with an approved individualized education program (IEP) or a student from a low-income household who meets certain attendance or enrollment criteria. The bill also specifies that if a qualified student leaves a public school or charter school to attend a qualified school elsewhere, they will continue to be counted in their former school's attendance for state and federal aid purposes for a period of up to five years, or until they graduate or receive scholarship funds. Furthermore, it clarifies that qualified schools accepting scholarship payments are not considered agents of the government and that the state bears the burden of proof in legal challenges regarding the application of these provisions to qualified schools.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB3022&year=2026&code=R