Veterans

SJR 88 is a proposed constitutional amendment in Missouri that would create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It defines a "disabled veteran" as a Missouri resident with honorable military service and 100% VA disability compensation from service-connected injuries, and exempts their primary residence (homestead) from property taxes. Surviving spouses retain the exemption only if they continue living in the same home; the exemption ends if they sell the property or move. To offset lost local tax revenue, the bill requires counties to impose a replacement tax on certain commercial property (subclass 3 of class 1), with adjustments based on property values and voter approval for rate changes. This is a pending constitutional amendment (prefiled Dec 2025, first read Jan 2026), not yet law.

HB 2411 creates a new "Missouri Medal of Honor Fallen Heroes Fund" by allowing Missouri taxpayers to designate $1 or more from their income tax refund (or send separate contributions) to fund memorial highway signs. The fund, managed by the Department of Revenue, finances signs honoring military personnel killed in service, first responders, Missouri Medal of Honor recipients, and state employees who died while serving. It modifies the highway designation process by requiring 100 signatures and a fee for most requests (exempting certain memorials), mandating two signs per designation, and requiring 20-year maintenance. Unspent funds remain in the memorial account and cannot be diverted to general revenue.