SB 1803 - This act creates the "True Charity" Act and the "True Charity" program. The act requires the Department of Social Services to coordinate with various state agencies and a partner network to assist participants in achieving personal goals, self-sufficiency, community integration, and a prosperous future. Participation in the True Charity program is limited to legal residents who are 18 years of age or older, except as otherwise provided in the act. State departments and agencies are required to participate in the True Charity program at the direction of the Governor. In order to use government resources more effectively and efficiently, participating state departments and agencies shall use existing resources and personnel, to the extent possible, to operate the True Charity program. This act is substantially similar to SS/SB 1062 (2026). SARAH HASKINS

2026 Regular Session

Creates the True Charity program to coordinate state resources and partners to help eligible legal residents 18+ achieve self-sufficiency and community integration.

Second Read and Referred S Government Efficiency Committee

Purpose and intent

SB 1803 proposes the creation of the “True Charity” Act and the accompanying “True Charity” program.

The program is designed to coordinate state resources and a partner network to help participants achieve personal goals, self-sufficiency, community integration, and a more prosperous future.

Participation is limited to legal residents aged 18 or older, with exceptions as provided in the act.

State departments and agencies are required to participate at the direction of the Governor, and to maximize efficiency by using existing resources and personnel where possible.

Key provisions

Establishment: Creates the True Charity Act and the True Charity program within Missouri’s governance framework.

Coordination: Requires the Department of Social Services to coordinate with various state agencies and a partner network to implement the program.

Participation criteria: Limits eligibility to legal residents aged 18 or older, with any specified exceptions to be detailed in the act.

Governance and direction: State departments and agencies must participate under the Governor’s direction.

Resource utilization: Agencies are instructed to use existing resources and personnel to operate the True Charity program, aiming for efficient use of government resources.

Relationship to existing law: Described as substantially similar to SS/SB 1062 (2026), indicating alignment with a contemporaneous or closely related measure.

Who is affected

Eligible participants: Legal residents who are at least 18 years old (subject to any exceptions specified in the act).

Government entities: The Department of Social Services and various other state departments and agencies that participate in the program.

Partners: A network of partner organizations designated or identified to support program goals (details would be specified in the implementing rules or the bill text).

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Referred to the Senate Government Efficiency Committee for Second Read (as of May 7, 2026) and previously to the Senate on February 26, 2026 for First Read.

Implementation timeline: Specific milestones, start dates, and transition plans are not included in the summary provided; they would typically be defined in the bill’s text or accompanying fiscal notes and rules.

Governance direction: The Governor directs agency participation, which implies a centralized political process for implementation and potential executive action to align agencies.

Potential implications and considerations

Resource impact: Emphasis on leveraging existing resources could minimize new cost but may require reallocation or reorganizational efforts within agencies.

Policy scope: By focusing on personal goals, self-sufficiency, and community integration, the bill signals a broad, holistic social-support framework rather than narrowly defined welfare benefits.

Eligibility and oversight: The legality of residency and age thresholds, along with any exceptions, will influence who can participate and how oversight is conducted.

Similarity to SB/SS 1062: Alignment with a companion measure may indicate coordinated reform across related bills and potential convergence of policy design.

Note: The summary reflects the bill text and action history available. Final details, including specific definitions, eligibility exceptions, funding, and administrative rules, would be found in the full bill language and any fiscal notes.