HB 2074 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver," providing public college tuition waivers for dependents of veterans who died in service, died from service-connected disabilities, or were certified as permanently and totally disabled by the VA. Eligible dependents include children, stepchildren, and spouses who are Missouri residents and meet age requirements (under 26, or up to 31 if they served in the military). The waiver covers remaining tuition after federal/state aid, administered by the Missouri Veterans' Commission, and applies to one community college degree followed by one bachelor's degree. It excludes concurrent use with other state veteran-dependent tuition programs.
HB 2123 creates a merit-based scholarship program for Missouri students attending in-state colleges. It provides up to $3,000 annually for students in the top 3% of Missouri ACT/SAT test-takers and up to $1,000 for those in the top 4-5%, covering tuition at Missouri public or private institutions. Eligibility requires Missouri residency, high school graduation, and a qualifying test score, with special provisions for military service, medical leave, or nonprofit work. The program is administered by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, starting before the 2027-28 academic year.
HJR 144 proposes a constitutional amendment granting Missouri veterans with service-connected disabilities a proportional property tax exemption. It directly affects veterans who received a disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, exempting their real property (like homes) and personal property from taxes based on their specific disability percentage. For example, a veteran with a 50% disability rating would receive a 50% reduction in property taxes, while those rated 100% would be fully exempt. This amendment requires voter approval in a special election and would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
HB 2619 creates two new special license plates for Missouri veterans: one for those who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq (requiring both campaign medals) and another for veterans who served only in Afghanistan (requiring the Afghanistan Campaign medal). Eligible veterans must be honorably discharged or currently serving and pay a $15 fee in addition to standard registration costs. The plates replace "SHOW-ME STATE" with "AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ VETERAN" or "AFGHANISTAN VETERAN" and display the respective campaign medals on the left side. They are non-transferable (except to co-owners after the veteran's death) and cannot be used on commercial vehicles over 24,000 pounds gross weight.
SB 925 modifies compensation and benefits for specific National Guard members. The bill aims to adjust financial support and perks they receive, though the exact changes (such as pay rates or healthcare details) aren't specified in the provided abstract. As of the latest update, the bill is under review by the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee after its first reading. Since the official abstract lacks specific provisions, this summary reflects only the bill's stated purpose and current procedural status.
HJR 105 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt certain veterans' property from Missouri property taxes. It would add former prisoners of war, veterans with total service-connected disabilities, and Purple Heart recipients to the existing list of individuals eligible for a property tax exemption. The amendment repeals the current Section 6 of Article X in the Missouri Constitution and replaces it with new language explicitly including these veteran groups. This change would require voter approval in 2026 to take effect, directly benefiting qualifying veterans and their families by reducing their property tax burden.
HB 2306 creates a property tax exemption for Missouri veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 30% or higher by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It reduces the taxable value of their primary residence by up to $500,000 based on disability rating (e.g., $10,000 for 30-50% rating, $500,000 for 100% rating). Surviving spouses retain the exemption if they live in the home and don’t remarry, and applications require annual VA documentation by April 1, starting tax year 2027. The exemption applies only to owner-occupied homes (not commercial properties) and does not affect how local tax rates are set.
HB 1848 designates the bridge on CST Dougherty Ferry Road over Interstate 270 in St. Louis County as the "Army SSG Salvatore Palazzolo Memorial Bridge." The Missouri Department of Transportation will install and maintain signs for this bridge, with all associated costs covered by the department. This bill honors Salvatore Palazzolo, an Army Staff Sergeant, through a permanent memorial designation on a specific public infrastructure location.
HB 2362 creates a property tax exemption for Missouri disabled veterans, reducing their primary residence property taxes by a percentage equal to their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., a 50% rating reduces taxes by 50%). It directly affects Missouri residents who are disabled veterans (with VA-certified disability ratings), own their primary residence, and file annual applications with VA documentation by April 1. The exemption is proportional to the veteran’s disability rating (up to 100% for 100% rating) and extends to surviving spouses who retain ownership and residency without remarrying. To qualify, applicants must submit proof of disability rating, ownership, and primary residence occupancy each year.
HB 2089 creates a property tax exemption for Missouri veterans with service-connected disabilities, directly affecting qualifying veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill grants annual exemptions of $2,500 for veterans with 30-49% disability (certified by the VA) and $5,000 for those with 50-69% disability, applied to their primary residence valued under $250,000. Surviving spouses may qualify if the veteran died in service, was eligible but died before applying, or if the spouse receives VA dependency compensation. The exemption applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027, and requires the veteran to own and reside in the property as their principal home.
