SS/SCS/HB 2593 - This act modifies provisions relating to military affairs. STATE CONTRACT PREFERENCE FOR VETERAN-OWNED ENTERPRISES (SECTIONS 34.069 & 34.074) This act creates new provisions establishing a preference in state contracts for certain veteran-owned enterprises. Specifically, in letting contracts for the performance of any job or service, all agencies, departments, institutions, and other entities of this state and of each political subdivision of this state shall give a three-point bonus preference to honorably discharged veteran-owned enterprises that are doing business as Missouri firms, corporations, or individuals or that maintain Missouri offices or places of business. The Commissioner of Administration is required to have a goal of letting at least 3% of all state contracts to honorably discharged veteran-owned enterprises, except as otherwise provided in the act. This provision is identical to SB 1245 (2026) and is substantially similar to HB 1749 (2026) and HB 714 (2025). SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF ACT PROTECTIONS (SECTION 40.490) When on state duty for more than 30 days, this act provides that Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are members of the National Guard of another state shall be entitled to rights and protections under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Additionally, any Missouri National Guard member or any Missouri employee who is a member of the National Guard of another state may bring an action for violations of the rights and protections afforded by this act and SCRA. The Attorney General may also bring such action against an employer. This provision is identical to HCS/HBs 954 & 1447 (2025) and HCS/HB 2771 & 1993 (2026), and is similar to HB 2235 (2024), HB 566 (2023), HB 1508 (2022), and HB 182 (2021). GRANTS FROM THE MISSOURI MILITARY FAMILY RELIEF FUND (SECTION 41.216) This act modifies the composition of the panel that recommends to the Adjutant General to make grants or provide other financial assistance or services from the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund. Instead of a sergeant major of the Missouri National Guard, the panel shall include a senior enlisted leader of the Missouri National Guard. This act also provides that the Adjutant General, rather than the panel, shall have the power to establish criteria for the grants. Furthermore, the grants may be made to members of the Missouri National Guard in addition to families of members and other reserve members of the Armed Forces of the United States. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). SUPPORTING MISSOURI SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN ACT - INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD (SECTION 41.430) This act establishes the Supporting Missouri Servicemen and Women Act. Currently, members of the Missouri National Guard serving under state active duty orders receive the same pay, longevity, and allowances as members of like grade and branch of the Armed Forces of the United States, provided that such members at least receive the daily paygrade rate of an E5 with maximum longevity and dependents. This act additionally provides that members of the Missouri National Guard who are on state active duty orders for more than 30 days shall receive an allowance for any premiums for TRICARE or other government-sponsored insurance programs for coverage of the member during the period of active duty. This provision is identical to SCS/SB 925 (2026) and a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026). MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD RIBBONS (SECTION 41.475, 41.598 & 41.599) This act establishes a Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Program Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in the Counterdrug Program after January 1, 1989. This act also establishes the Missouri National Guard Homeland Response Force Program Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in the Homeland Response Force Program after January 1, 2012. This act establishes a Missouri National Guard Engineer Explosive Ordnance Clearance Agent Ribbon, which the Adjutant General is authorized to present to any member of the Missouri National Guard who has participated in an engineer explosive ordnance clearance agent course after January 1, 2012. These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). FEDERAL ASSET FORFEITURE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION BY THE NATIONAL GUARD (SECTION 41.477) This act creates the Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Revolving Fund, which shall consist of all monies received by the Missouri National Guard through federal asset forfeiture programs for purposes authorized by such programs. Participation in federal asset forfeiture programs shall be at the discretion of the Adjutant General. Upon electing to participate, the Missouri National Guard shall comply with the terms of an equitable sharing agreement and certificate of the federal asset forfeiture program. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). CYBERSECURITY MISSION ACT (SECTIONS 41.1015 TO 41.1018) This act establishes the Cybersecurity Mission Act, which provides that upon the request of the Director of the Department of Public Safety, the Missouri National Guard may enter into agreements for aid related to cybersecurity, cyber-attack prevention, cyber-attack response, and cyber-attack support activities for this state and for political subdivisions, governing bodies, public colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies, utility companies, and critical infrastructure facilities of this state. The Adjutant General may activate members on state order to carry out such activities. The Missouri National Guard Cyber-Security Revolving Fund is created and shall consist of monies appropriated by the General Assembly and monies received as a charge and monies received as reimbursement for expenses incurred by the Missouri National Guard related to rendering aid under this act. These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). MOGIVES - LIVING DONOR MEDICAL ORDERS FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS (SECTION 41.1030) This act establishes the Missouri Guaranteed Inclusive Voluntary Exceptional Service Program (MO GIVES) under the Department of the National Guard (Department). The MO GIVES Program allows members of the Department who are in good standing, in a traditional drilling status, and not serving under federal orders to receive living donor medical orders for purposes of remaining on paid status during the period of time deemed medically necessary to provide an organ donation. The member shall submit an application as detailed in the act and shall agree to undergo the operation for the organ donation at a transplant center that is a member in good standing with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. The Department may approve a member's application if the eligibility requirements are met and if sufficient funds are available in the MO GIVES Fund established in the act. The act outlines certain individuals that would not be eligible for participation in the program. The living donor medical orders shall: (1) Not exceed 45 days unless an extension of time is deemed medically necessary by the primary surgical team; and (2) Issue compensation as provided in current law. The compensation provided in this act shall be in addition to any compensation provided by accrued federal military leave, federal civilian leave, or private employer leave. This act is similar to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026), SB 1555 (2026), SB 1539 (2026), and HB 2664 (2026). RECOGNITION MEDALS (SECTIONS 42.300 TO 42.316) The Missouri Veterans' Commission may use the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund for payment of expenses associated with providing medals, medallions, and certificates in recognition of service in the Armed Forces of the United States for any conflict, war, operation, and similar incident identified in law, rather than during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War. Furthermore, this act provides that spouses or eldest living survivors of a deceased veteran, who was entitled to but died prior to applying, may apply for, on behalf of the deceased veteran, the following medallions, medals, and certificates: • Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn; • Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and Operation Allies Refuge Program; and • Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The Missouri Veterans' Commission shall design the form for such medallions, medals, and certificates. The Adjutant General shall determine as expeditiously as possible those persons who are entitled to such medallions, medals, and certificates and shall notify the General Assembly when such supply totals less than 100. These provisions are identical to provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). STATE-SPONSORED LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM (SECTION 105.265) This act provides that the Adjutant General shall be the official sponsor of the state-sponsored life insurance program, which is the life insurance program exclusively offered to all members of the Missouri National Guard through the Missouri National Guard Association in accordance with federal law. The Missouri National Guard Association shall select the insurer used to provide the program. Furthermore, the Adjutant General shall: (1) Allow, facilitate, and coordinate all efforts to make the program available to all Missouri National Guard members; (2) Provide an opportunity for Missouri National Guard members to purchase products of the program; (3) Allow, facilitate, and coordinate requested allotments with the appropriate United States Property and Fiscal Office; (4) Allow program representatives to provide Missouri National Guard members with program briefings during annual training and inactive duty training periods; and (5) Allow Missouri National Guard members to designate or change beneficiaries under the program. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). LEAVE FROM EMPLOYMENT FOR MILITARY SERVICE (SECTION 105.270) This act expands, from 120 to 160, the maximum number of hours in leave of absence per federal fiscal year that certain public employees are entitled to take to perform specified military duties without loss of time, pay, regular leave, impairment of efficiency rating, or of any other rights or benefits to which the employees are otherwise entitled. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). TUITION AND FEE WAIVERS FOR MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS (SECTION 173.239) Currently, the tuition and fee waiver for undergraduate courses at Missouri higher education institutions to Missouri National Guard members apply after GI Bill educational entitlements. This act repeals this provision. This act further provides that the tuition and fee waiver awarded by an institution to a member shall not exceed the grant received by the institution for that member. This provision is similar to a provision in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). REPEAL OF THE MILITARY COUNSEL (SECTION 41.220) Finally, this act repeals the Military Council, which duties included acting in an advisory capacity on matters provided by the Governor and the Adjutant General and making recommendations of appropriations for the needs of the militia and expending such appropriations. This provision is identical to a provision in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 974 (2026) and in SS/SCS/SB 1003 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN