SB 953 creates a "Natural Resources Protection Fund" to manage environmental fees, including a new "Missouri Air Emission Reduction Fund" for emissions inspection fees. It changes rules so unspent funds won’t revert to general revenue after 2027 (previously they did), and requires 5% of electric power tax revenue to fund air pollution programs. The Department of Natural Resources will use these funds for environmental programs, while emissions inspection stations must collect and remit fees to the state treasurer. The bill directly affects state environmental agencies, inspection stations, and public programs focused on air/water quality.
HJR 146 (despite its title mentioning "renaming," the actual bill text describes a constitutional amendment for fuel tax distribution). It directs that 10% of fuel tax proceeds go to a "County Aid Road Trust Fund" (with an additional 5% for cities outside counties), 15% to cities/towns for road work, and the remainder to the state road fund. Funds are distributed based on county road mileage, rural land valuation, and city population, with strict rules limiting use to roads, bridges, and related maintenance (not salaries or equipment). The bill also prohibits local taxes on fuel without voter approval and clarifies that these funds don't count toward state revenue limits. Note: The bill's title references "renaming the tax commission," but the text describes tax allocation - this discrepancy suggests a possible error in the provided context.
HB 2418 creates the "Missouri Crime Victims Fund" to provide dedicated funding for crime victim services. The fund, managed by the state treasurer, accepts state appropriations and donations from public or private sources. It ensures leftover funds at the end of each biennium stay in the fund (not revert to general revenue) and requires all money to be used by local organizations eligible for federal Victims of Crime Act grants, for the same purposes those federal grants cover. This bill directly affects Missouri organizations providing victim assistance services by aligning state funding with existing federal grant requirements.
HB 2242 provides state funding to help public school districts hire licensed school nurses and mental health professionals. School districts can apply for a state supplement covering up to the full salary (including experience) for one nurse or mental health professional per school, with preference given to schools with the greatest need - based on factors like student health ratios, free/reduced lunch eligibility, and Title I funding. Districts may also use the funds to reimburse telehealth services for remote access to these professionals, subject to parental consent. The bill creates dedicated state funds for these supplements, ensuring unspent money doesn’t revert to general revenue and must be used solely for this purpose.
HB 1869 creates a Missouri grant program to help families repair or reset grave markers for deceased veterans buried in state cemeteries when markers are damaged by natural causes (like weather or erosion). Eligible applicants must be family members of veterans who were honorably discharged or died while on active duty, and they must provide proof of relationship and burial location. The program is funded through a dedicated "Veterans' Grave Marker Trust Fund," which can receive state appropriations and private donations, with unspent funds not reverting to general revenue. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants must agree to use funds solely for repairing the grave marker.
HB 2535 provides property tax exemptions for certain veterans and their families starting in 2027. Disabled veterans with a 30%+ disability rating, Purple Heart recipients, and Gold Star spouses (surviving spouses of service members killed in action) receive tax relief based on disability levels, ranging from $3,000 to full exemption on their primary home. To offset lost property tax revenue, the bill increases cigarette taxes and adds new excise taxes on vaping products, tobacco paraphernalia, and hemp consumables. Revenue from these taxes funds a dedicated state fund to reimburse counties for property tax losses tied to the veteran exemptions.
SB 1145 reallocates Missouri county sales tax revenue to fund parks and recreation. For most counties, 50% of tax revenue stays in a district park fund for operations, while 50% returns to the county for park projects (with 40% reserved for municipal grants to cities). In metropolitan areas, 60% of revenue goes to a dedicated park fund (initially 50% for Gateway Arch grounds, later shifting to 20%), and 40% returns to counties for municipal park grants. The bill also requires counties to seek voter approval to extend funding for the Gateway Arch after 20 years.
HJR 145 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain disabled veterans' property from Missouri state taxes. It would grant tax exemptions for homestead property and personal belongings (like household goods and vehicles) owned by Missouri residents who are certified as having a 100% service-connected disability by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The amendment would require the state to replace lost tax revenue through a countywide tax on specific commercial property, ensuring local governments retain funding. This change would apply to veterans meeting strict criteria, including honorable military service and Missouri residency. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled and read first time).
SB 938 modifies Missouri land surveying fee structures by requiring recorders to collect a $5 fee per recorded instrument. Two dollars of this fee stays with the recorder for record preservation, while $3 is sent to the state treasury. The state allocates $2 per fee to the "Missouri Land Survey Fund" (for survey-related purposes) and $1 to the secretary of state for record preservation. The bill also directs $3 per fee to the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. It directly affects county recorders, state agencies managing funds, and anyone recording land survey documents.
HB 2247 gradually reduces Missouri's personal income tax rates over time, directly affecting all residents who pay state income tax. Starting in 2023, the top tax rate drops to 4.95%, with further annual reductions of 0.15% in 2024 and 0.1% each year thereafter, contingent on state revenue meeting specific thresholds. The bill eliminates the tax entirely by 2037, with tax brackets automatically adjusted for inflation annually. Key provisions include phased rate cuts tied to revenue performance and a final full elimination of the tax after 14 years.
