SB 1555 - This act establishes the Missouri Guaranteed Inclusive Voluntary Exceptional Service (MO GIVES) Program under the Department of the National Guard (Department). The MO GIVES Program allows members of the Missouri National Guard who choose to become living organ donors to receive living donor medical orders for purposes of remaining on paid status during the living donation period. The Department shall approve a member's participation if sufficient funds are available and the member: (1) Is under Troop Program Unit status or Individual Ready Reserve status; (2) Is in good standing with the Department; (3) Either is not eligible for living donor paid leave from the member's employer or elects not to use any such employer-based benefit available to the member; (4) Specifies the type of donation; and (5) Agrees to undergo the procurement operation at a health care facility approved as a provider of continuing education points for transplant certification by the American Board for Transplant Certification. Upon approval of a member's application, the Department shall issue a living donor medical order, which shall: (1) Guarantee paid leave for the member for the living donation period, which shall not exceed 45 days unless an extension of time is deemed medically necessary by the primary surgical and medical recovery team; (2) Exempt the member from any requirement to use accrued annual or medical leave for the guaranteed paid living donation period; and (3) Provide a per diem allowance and a basic allowance for housing during the guaranteed paid living donation period based on the member's rank, region, and dependent status. This act also establishes the MO GIVES Fund, which consists of moneys used to fund the benefits provided under the MO GIVES Program. This act is identical to HB 2664 (2026). KATIE O'BRIEN

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Beck

Establishes Missouri National Guard living organ/tissue donation program with medical orders for eligible service members, expanding donor availability while addressing military-specific medical protocols.

Hearing Conducted S Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

Legislative bill overview

SB 1555 establishes the "Missouri Guaranteed Inclusive Voluntary Exceptional Service (MO Gives) Program" to provide living donor medical orders to members of the Missouri National Guard. The bill creates a framework allowing National Guard members to participate in organ and tissue donation while on active duty or during service-related activities. This appears to be a specialized program addressing medical benefits and donor eligibility for military personnel.

Why is this important

The bill addresses a gap in medical benefits for National Guard members by establishing clearer protocols for voluntary organ and tissue donation. Living donor programs can save lives by expanding the donor pool, and ensuring National Guard members can participate removes potential barriers to donation while maintaining service eligibility. This could increase transplant availability while supporting both donors and recipients.

Potential points of contention

Medical risk and duty impact: Questions about whether allowing living donation could affect military readiness or create pressure on service members to donate despite medical risks

Eligibility and fairness: Unclear criteria for which Guard members qualify and whether the program creates two-tiered benefit systems between different military branches

Implementation costs: Potential expenses for medical screening, post-donation care, and liability coverage are not yet detailed in the bill summary