HB 3543 allows Missouri counties to create a property tax exemption for disabled veterans' primary homes starting in 2027. It defines "disabled veteran" as a Missouri resident with a service-connected disability (100% disabled or compensating for unemployability) who owns and occupies their home. The exemption covers up to $32,500 or the federal maximum amount of property tax, and it extends to surviving spouses or minor children who continue living in the home. Counties must seek voter approval for a replacement sales tax to offset lost revenue before implementing the exemption.
HB 3280 creates a special license plate for surviving spouses of disabled veterans, replacing the standard "SHOW-ME STATE" plate with "SURVIVING SPOUSE" and "OF DISABLED VETERAN" on the bottom. To qualify, applicants must prove surviving spouse status, pay a $15 fee on top of regular registration, and own a vehicle (not commercial or over 24,000 lbs gross weight). The plates must be reflective, visually clear at night, and aesthetically consistent with state standards, but cannot be transferred to others except to a co-owner if the qualifying spouse dies. This policy change directly affects eligible surviving spouses by providing a visible identifier for their status.
This Missouri House resolution (HCR 51) urges Congress to pass HR 1970, a federal bill that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to fully reimburse veterans' homes or directly provide high-cost medications and treatments for severely disabled veterans. It specifically addresses current shortfalls in VA funding that leave veterans' homes unable to cover expenses for specialized care. The resolution does not create new law but expresses Missouri's support for federal action to better support veterans' long-term care facilities.
HB 2672 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Personal Property Tax Credit Act," allowing counties to offer a tax credit on personal property taxes for qualifying disabled veterans who own up to two vehicles. The credit equals the veteran's U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (up to 100%), directly benefiting Missouri veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating who reside in adopting counties. Counties must voluntarily adopt the credit via local ordinance, and the credit reduces the veteran's tax bill without changing the vehicle's assessed value or tax rate. Veterans must provide annual proof of disability rating and vehicle ownership, and the credit does not apply to taxes for the blind pension fund. Counties decide whether to implement the credit, with no requirement for statewide adoption.
HB 2817, the Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act, creates a state grant program to fund clinical trials using ibogaine for treating opioid use disorder and other mental health conditions. Eligible entities (like hospitals or research institutions within the state) must partner with a consortium that has submitted an FDA application for ibogaine trials, demonstrate relevant research experience, and match state grant funds with non-state funding. The bill establishes two dedicated state funds: an "Ibogaine Study Fund" for grant awards and an "Intellectual Property Fund" to collect revenue from trial-related patents or treatments, which will support veteran and at-risk population programs. It requires quarterly progress reports from grant recipients and annual legislative updates, with grant applications to begin accepting before November 1, 2026.
HB 3030 requires healthcare providers in this state to give patients (or their authorized representatives) copies of their health records upon written request, within a reasonable time after receiving the request. Providers may charge specific, capped fees for search, copying, and delivery - up to $24.85 for search/retrieval plus $0.57 per page, with electronic options available for $108.88 total or less. The bill also prohibits fees for records needed to apply for disability, veterans, or other federal benefits (as listed in Section 9) and sets annual fee adjustments based on medical inflation. It clarifies access rules for deceased patients' records and ensures providers aren’t liable for disclosures made in good faith under these provisions.
HJR 167 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt from property taxes the real and personal property (up to $200,000 in value, adjusted for inflation) owned by Missouri veterans with a total service-connected disability. This exemption would take effect starting in 2027 and requires voter approval through a statewide election. The amendment also includes other tax exemptions (such as for religious organizations and business inventories), but the primary focus is on veterans. If approved, this change would reduce local property tax revenue for qualifying veterans' property, though the bill does not specify how to replace that lost revenue.
HB 2673, the "Veterans Well-Being and Resource Outreach Act," would require the Department of Mental Health to create a program encouraging local veterans' organizations to conduct monthly wellness checks for veterans at risk of isolation, homelessness, or mental health crises. The program would use noninvasive outreach to invite at-risk veterans to participate, with check-ins conducted twice monthly by trained veterans or staff who assess medical, housing, mental health, and vocational needs in real time. Organizations participating would not be mandated but would follow state-developed guidelines for implementation. The bill is currently in early legislative stages (prefiled January 2026) and has not yet been enacted.
HB 2869 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans Homestead Tax Credit Act," allowing Missouri counties to offer a property tax credit for eligible disabled veterans who own their primary residence. The credit covers up to 100% of real property taxes on a homestead valued at $500,000 or less, for veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Counties must vote to adopt the program (opt-in), and veterans must own the home as their primary residence (not exceeding five acres) to qualify. The credit is non-refundable, non-transferable, and does not apply if the veteran rents part of the property or qualifies for other tax relief.
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.
