SB 1619 removes the previous 120-hour annual limit for public employees serving in the National Guard or Armed Forces Reserves during federal duty, ensuring they retain full job benefits including seniority, pay, schedule, and performance evaluations without interruption. It directly affects state, county, municipal, school district, and other public employees who serve in these military roles, including volunteer firefighters (who retain all protections except monetary compensation). Key provisions require employees to submit military orders for leave verification and prohibit discrimination against service members in employment. The bill expands existing protections by eliminating the hour cap for federal service while maintaining the same requirements for state service leave.
HB 2988 ensures Missouri public employees (including state/local government workers, school staff, and county/municipal employees) who serve in the National Guard or military reserves can take leave for military duty without losing their job, seniority, pay, benefits, or performance ratings. It specifically guarantees leave for both federal service (up to 120 hours per federal fiscal year) and state service (called by the governor, with no time limit), requiring employees to submit military orders as proof. The bill also prohibits employers from discriminating against or firing employees for military service and exempts volunteer firefighters from pay-related protections. This protects over 100,000 public employees who serve in reserve units while maintaining their employment rights.
HB 2771 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and eligible Missouri employees called to active state duty by their state's governor or adjutant general. It applies to Missouri National Guard members or Missouri-based employees serving in another state's National Guard for more than 30 consecutive days. The bill guarantees these individuals the same reemployment rights and civil protections (like mortgage/rent relief) under federal SCRA law, and authorizes the attorney general to enforce these rights or pursue legal action against violating employers. This ensures state-activated service members face no employment or financial penalties upon returning to civilian life.
HB 3134 creates Missouri's "Green-to-Blue Bridge Program" to help military veterans transition to law enforcement. It allows veterans who earned a diploma from the U.S. Army Military Police School (USAMPS) with MOS 31A or 31B to receive POST credit toward Missouri peace officer certification, exempting them from redundant training for skills like firearms, defensive tactics, and criminal investigation. The bill requires the POST commission to design a training program that grants this credit and consults with the Missouri National Guard to align military training with state standards. This directly affects qualifying veterans seeking to become Missouri law enforcement officers.
HCR 34 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging Congress to support the Major Richard Star Act. It directly affects medically retired service members with less than 20 years of service and a disability rating below 50%, who currently lose $1 in retirement pay for every $1 in disability benefits they receive. The resolution seeks to eliminate this offset, allowing these veterans to receive full retirement pay and VA disability benefits simultaneously. This change would impact an estimated 50,000 veterans, as noted in the resolution's findings. The bill is procedural and does not create new law, but formally requests federal action.
HCR 27 is a Missouri legislative resolution urging Congress to recognize U.S. military personnel who served in Honduras from 1981 to 1992. It specifically requests Congress award an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or similar honor to veterans who experienced hostile conditions, including combat support, hostile fire, and casualties (such as Purple Heart recipients and those who died). The resolution does not create new law but formally asks federal leaders to extend this recognition to qualifying service members. Missouri's legislature passed this resolution to acknowledge the veterans' service during a period when U.S. troops provided training and support in Honduras.
HB 1703 allows Missouri taxpayers who serve in the National Guard or military reserves to deduct a portion of their military-related income from their state taxable income. The deduction percentage increases gradually - from 20% in 2020 up to 100% starting in 2024 - and applies to income from training, reserve duty, or joining/re-enlistment bonuses. It directly affects Missouri military members (National Guard/reserves) who file state tax returns, reducing their taxable income for eligible military compensation. The bill also specifies that this deduction will no longer apply to civilian federal service positions (including uniformed roles) beginning in 2027.
HB 2593 establishes a Missouri Military Family Relief Fund to provide financial assistance to Missouri National Guard members and their families, as well as to Missouri residents serving in federal reserve components. It creates three new service ribbons for specific military programs: a counterdrug program ribbon (eligible since 1989), a homeland response force ribbon (eligible since 2012), and an engineer explosive ordnance clearance agent ribbon (eligible since 2012). All ribbons require honorable service and may be awarded to surviving next of kin if a member dies before receiving the ribbon. The bill also clarifies the adjutant general's authority to manage these programs and issue rules for the relief fund.
HB 1993 extends federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) protections to Missouri National Guard members and Missouri employees who are National Guard members of other states when called to active state duty for more than 30 consecutive days. This means these individuals gain the same legal protections as federal service members for issues like rent, mortgage adjustments, and credit relief. The law requires employers to maintain job protections and allows affected members to sue if rights are violated, with the attorney general also empowered to enforce compliance. It replaces an outdated Missouri law that previously did not cover state National Guard duty under SCRA.
HB 1909 requires Missouri's POST Commission to create a system that counts military basic training hours (including Army Military Police School) toward peace officer licensure requirements. It directly affects National Guard members and active/reserve military personnel seeking Missouri peace officer licenses. The bill establishes a point conversion system for military training credit and creates a dedicated "Military Police Program of Instruction Fund" to administer the program. This policy change streamlines licensure for military veterans by recognizing their existing training, pending state funding appropriation.
