Missouri governor Mike Kehoe will sign a bill this week that creates a government oversight board for the Missouri State High School Activities Association, called the Interscholastic Athletic Oversight Commission.
According to KY3, the new commission can overrule MSHSAA decisions beginning in the 2027-28 school year. These decisions could include student-athlete eligibility rulings or even game rules.
Student-athletes and their families who bring eligibility or other cases to MSHSAA and do not receive the desired outcome can appeal the decision to the Interscholastic Athletic Oversight Commission, where lawmakers will reevaluate the case and make the final decision.
Related: Senate Bills, Federal Lawsuits Threaten Future of MSHSAA
“It’s not something that just happened yesterday. It’s been happening for several years,” said senator Jason Bean. “I mean, we’ve heard comments that have gone back, let’s say, 20 years ago. So I think it’s just something built up, and we look like it’s time to have an oversight of MSHSAA.”
The oversight commission was originally created in cooperation with MSHSAA, and the governing body’s executive director Dr. Jennifer Rukstad supported the newfound cooperation between MSHSAA and lawmakers. She insists the oversight commission will have limited impact on most student-athletes.
“The perception is that MSHSAA is — and Sen. Bean has used this term before — judge, jury and executioner,” Rukstad said. “The perception and the reality, I think, are a little bit different.”
