Housing (Property Taxes)

SB 1668 - This act establishes the "Missouri Innovation, Public Safety, and Accountability Act". The act authorizes a city to submit an innovation district master plan to the Department of Economic Development for the establishment of an innovation district. The master plan shall include the geographic boundaries, identification of vacant or underutilized property, public safety and infrastructure priorities, a general strategy for surplus or incremental state revenues, and high-level projections of anticipated housing units, jobs, business, and population impacts. The Department's authority to approve or deny an application shall be limited to determining whether the geographic boundaries are reasonable. All other application information shall be considered informational and not subject to approval, modification, or denial by the Department. The Department shall adopt and administer a single, standardized master scorecard to evaluate incentives for projects located within an innovation district. The scorecard shall establish uniform criteria, provide predictability and transparency, rank projects based on measurable outcomes, establish intermediate incentive tiers for projects that do not meet full eligibility, and assign project applications to incentive tiers based on the master scorecard. The scorecard shall include categories as described in the act. An application for incentives shall be approved or denied by a reviewing authority within forty-five calendar days. Failure to issue a determination shall result in approval of the application. (Section 620.6000) A city establishing an innovation district shall establish a fast track permitting process for projects located within the district, including the designation of a single, empowered point of contact that is authorized to coordinate reviews and issue binding determinations on behalf of all relevant departments, agencies, and offices. The city shall waive, reduce, or defer discretionary, duplicative, or extraordinary permit and development fees for projects within the district. For properties not subject to an existing tax increment financing plan or property tax abatement, fifty percent of the incremental increase in real property tax revenues generated after designation shall be deposited into the innovation district's public safety fund. The city shall adopt policies providing building code flexibility for adaptive reuse projects, as described in the act. The Department shall prepare and submit a biennial written report to the General Assembly summarizing the performance of the innovation district program, as described in the act. (Section 620.6003) The act establishes the "Rural Missouri Development Fund" for the purpose of supporting economic development, infrastructure, housing, workforce development, and related community-building activities in rural and smaller communities in the state. Any municipality in the top five percent of assessed valuation in the state and that has an innovation district shall deposit ten percent of new property tax revenues into the Rural Missouri Development Fund. Such funds shall be awarded to rural and smaller municipalities, and regional development organizations. The moneys shall be used for rural education, public infrastructure improvements, public safety, housing development, workforce development, and health care community service facilities. (Section 620.6006) The act establishes the "Innovation District Public Safety Fund", which shall be composed of fifty percent of net new state tax receipts generated in the innovation district. Moneys in the fund shall be used for capital or operating expenditures related to public safety and public realm improvements within the district. A project sponsor may apply to the Department for a construction-phase withholding advance. If the application meets all technical requirements, the Department shall disburse the construction-phase withholding advance. (Section 620.6009) For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, any person who is not a resident of this state and that establishes a primary residence within an innovation zone shall be eligible for an income tax exclusion. (Section 620.2012) The act authorizes an employer to enter into a withholding agreement with the Department for the retention of a portion of withholding taxes of employees located within an innovation district. The Department may establish aggregate or annual program caps by rule to manage fiscal exposure. Retained withholdings shall be used solely for qualifying reinvestment expenditures, as defined in the act. (Section 620.2015) For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the act authorizes an eligible employer to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to $5,000 per eligible employee for relocation expenses incurred in moving such employee from out of the state into an innovation zone. (Section 620.2018) For all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, the act authorizes a taxpayer to claim a tax credit in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of conversion expenditures incurred for converting nonresidential property into residential property. The tax credit may be claimed against the taxpayer's income tax liability or sales tax liability. (Section 620.2021) The act authorizes a city to establish a Missouri Opportunity Zone, which shall be conterminous with the innovation district boundaries. A taxpayer may elect to defer payment of state income taxes if such income tax liability is invested in a qualified Missouri Opportunity Zone investment, as defined in the act. This act shall sunset on August 28, 2036, unless reauthorized by the General Assembly. This act is substantially similar to provisions in SS#2/SCS/HCS/HBs 3231 & 2531 (2026). JOSH NORBERG

HB 3312 establishes a 6-year pilot program that redirects local sales tax revenues from purchases made in one county (seller's county) to the county where the buyer lives (purchaser's county). It directly affects veterans and senior citizens in specific small counties (based on population thresholds) by using redirected funds to eliminate veterans' residential property tax bills and reduce up to 30% of senior citizens' property taxes. The program requires sellers to use a unique transaction code to identify the purchaser's county, with tax revenues collected into a separate trust fund before being distributed monthly to qualifying counties. Counties must use these funds first to replace lost revenue from veterans' tax eliminations, then for senior citizen reductions, with any remaining funds going to general county revenue.

HB 3297 allows residential development in commercial or industrial zones if at least 40% of units are affordable for 30 years, prohibiting local governments from requiring zoning changes or special approvals for such projects. It mandates minimum density and height standards based on existing local rules and permits administrative approval without additional board review. The bill also creates property tax exemptions for qualifying affordable housing: full exemption for households earning ≤80% of median income, and 75% exemption for 80-120% of median income, applicable to new multifamily projects with over 70 units meeting income criteria. These tax benefits require annual applications with income verification and tenant restrictions, effective for tax year 2027.

HB 3242 sets maximum tax rates for residential property in Missouri: 7% of assessed value for homes within incorporated cities/towns, and 6% for homes in counties outside those areas (or in areas without municipal tax levies). It applies directly to homeowners by capping combined taxes from all local governments (like cities, counties, schools, and districts) on residential property. If total taxes exceed these limits, local officials must proportionally reduce all levies to stay within the cap. The bill does not override Missouri's constitutional tax limits and affects all residential properties subject to multiple local tax authorities.

HJR 152 proposes a constitutional amendment to cap annual property tax increases for Missouri homeowners who live in their primary residence. It would limit annual valuation increases to 5% unless the property has undergone new construction/improvements or was recently sold (with the full market value applied at first sale). This applies specifically to residential properties classified as "class 1" under Missouri's tax system. The change would take effect January 1, 2027, and requires voter approval in the 2026 election.

HB 3118 modifies tax credit rules for business contributions to community programs. It allows up to 70% tax credits for donations to approved programs in small communities (under 15,000 residents) or distressed areas, with an annual cap of $6 million. Special provisions apply to affordable housing investments in distressed communities, offering up to 55% tax credits under separate annual limits. The bill affects businesses and financial institutions making qualifying contributions, excluding normal business activities like banking or insurance operations.

This constitutional amendment (SJR 113) changes how Missouri property taxes are calculated, primarily affecting homeowners and landowners. It limits annual increases for residential property (including rental homes) to the lesser of the consumer price index (inflation rate) or a 2% cap, preventing sudden tax jumps. The bill also reorganizes property classes: Class 1 (homes, farms, businesses) must use uniform tax percentages, while Class 3 (like commercial properties) is taxed based on annual yield with a maximum 8% limit. Exceptions allow higher increases for new construction or major improvements.

HB 2981 creates a new property tax credit for eligible Missouri homeowners, primarily seniors (65+), disabled individuals, or qualifying married couples, whose property tax bills increase by more than a calculated threshold. It directly affects homeowners with combined income under $70,000 (adjusted annually) who own a homestead without significant non-disability improvements (exceeding 5% of assessed value). The credit offsets tax increases above the "homestead exemption limit" (based on prior-year tax liability changes), calculated separately from existing tax rates. Homeowners must apply annually between April 1 and October 15, providing proof of age, income, and tax payment history, with applications processed by the Department of Revenue. The credit applies only to subclass (1) real property and excludes those already claiming other property tax relief.

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.

SB 1111 would increase the homestead exemption, which protects primary residences from property tax increases. The bill's official abstract does not specify the exact amount of the increase, the income thresholds, or which homeowners would be directly affected. As the bill is only in early stages (prefiled and awaiting committee review), no concrete mechanisms or key provisions are described in the available information. Without additional details from the full text or committee documents, a specific summary of policy changes cannot be provided.