Veterans (Veteran Education)

HB 3029 regulates who can charge for helping veterans navigate benefits claims. It prohibits most paid advisors from receiving compensation for assisting with veterans' benefits matters (except under federal law), requiring written agreements that comply with federal fee guidelines (38 CFR 14.636). The bill mandates clear disclosures to veterans stating the service isn't affiliated with the VA or Missouri Veterans' Commission and that free help may be available elsewhere. It bans guarantees of specific benefits, excessive fees, and access to veterans' personal medical or financial information. This directly affects paid consultants, lawyers, and third parties offering veterans' benefits assistance services.

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 3047 prevents landlords from evicting veteran tenants unless illegal activity occurs on the property. It defines a "veteran" as someone with an honorable military discharge after six months of active duty (or six years in reserves/National Guard), or who served in a campaign with a medal. Landlords cannot evict these tenants for standard lease violations like nonpayment of rent. The law would require eviction cases to prove illegal conduct as the sole justification, changing current eviction rules for this group.

This bill regulates fees for professionals assisting veterans with benefits claims. It prohibits charging referral fees, setting upfront fees, or guaranteeing specific benefits. It requires written agreements that limit compensation to five times any monthly benefit increase (paid only if benefits improve) and mandates clear disclosure that the service isn't affiliated with the VA or Missouri Veterans' Commission. The bill also bans using medical professionals with employment ties for exams and restricts handling veterans' personal data through international call centers.

SB 1048 - This act creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver" to provide college tuition waivers for the children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans. The act defines an "institution" as including any state college or university or public community college that receives appropriations from the General Assembly for operating expenses and satisfies certain other conditions established in current law. A dependent of a veteran shall be eligible to receive a waiver of tuition and fees at an institution, up to a maximum that shall not exceed the amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri-Columbia for attendance, if the dependent has a parent, stepparent, or spouse who is or was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who died on active duty, died of a service-connected disability, died after discharge from the military as a result of injury or illness, is rated as permanently and totally disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, or is classified as missing in action or a prisoner of war. For a dependent who is the child or stepchild of such a veteran, the act specifies that the dependent shall be under 26 years old unless the dependent serves on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States, in which case the eligibility period shall be extended a maximum of five years, up to the dependent's 31st birthday. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to implement the provisions of the act. The Missouri Veterans Commission shall ensure that the application process is accessible, transparent, and efficiently administered. The Executive Director of the Missouri Veterans Commission shall establish application procedures, determine applicants' eligibility, certify approved applicants, establish procedures for fraud prevention, and oversee program compliance and reporting, as provided in the act. The Executive Director shall work with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education to facilitate communication with institutions, ensure proper implementation of the waivers, and maintain program efficiency. The Coordinating Board for Higher Education shall ensure consistent implementation of the act across all institutions, develop guidelines for institutions to process tuition waivers, and coordinate with the Missouri Veterans Commission to ensure seamless communication and prevent administrative delays for eligible applicants. A tuition waiver shall be valid for one degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college and one baccalaureate degree from a state college or university. Receipt of a degree, diploma, or certificate from a community college shall precede receipt of a baccalaureate degree. A recipient of a tuition waiver shall be ineligible for the Wartime Veteran's Survivors Grant Program, the Survivors of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Program, and any other state-funded veteran-dependent tuition grant, waiver, or scholarship. A student who has previously received any such grant, waiver, or scholarship shall not be eligible to receive a tuition waiver, and a student shall not concurrently receive a tuition waiver and any other such grant, waiver, or scholarship. A recipient of a tuition waiver may transfer from one institution to another without losing entitlement to the tuition waiver. If a recipient is granted financial assistance under any other student aid program, whether public or private, the full amount of such financial assistance shall be reported to the Missouri Veterans Commission and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. This act is identical to HB 2074 (2026) substantially similar to SB 716 (2025). OLIVIA SHANNON

SJR 77 is a Senate Joint Resolution proposing a property tax exemption for disabled veterans. It would authorize the state to exempt qualifying disabled veterans from paying property taxes on their primary residence. This resolution is currently in early stages (prefiled and first read) and would require further legislative approval to become law. It does not currently change tax policy but proposes a new exemption for disabled veterans if enacted.

SB 1107 restricts paid assistance for Missouri veterans navigating benefits claims. It prohibits most individuals or organizations from charging fees for advising or helping with claims filed through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or Missouri Veterans' Commission, except as permitted under federal law. The bill requires any paid service provider to use a written agreement meeting federal standards (38 CFR 14.636), provide clear disclaimers that free help exists through government agencies, and avoid guaranteeing specific benefits. This directly affects veterans seeking assistance and paid service providers, aiming to prevent deceptive practices while ensuring transparency about available free resources.

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.

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.