Governor signs new bills into law supporting veterans, military members
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Governor Mike Parson signed seven more bills into law on Thursday after signing several others including a large crime bill that created a new law enforcement legislation on Tuesday.
Two bills signed, Senate Bill 912 and House Bill 1495, will provide more support to Missouri veterans and military members, according to a press release.
HB 1495 directs the Missouri Veterans Commission to review current practices and recommend more ways to prevent veteran suicide.
The bill text states the MVC along with the Department of Mental Health must file a report before July 1, 2025, and annually to the General Assembly on the "recommendations, implementation, and effectiveness of the efforts by the Commission to prevent veteran suicide."
SB 912 includes a condition identical to HB 1495 along with others relating to military and veterans affairs, according to the release. The bill also authorizes certain tuition fee waivers and grants for Missouri National Guard members working towards an undergraduate degree. It will also create the Missouri Veterans and Job Opportunity Grant Program.
"We are proud to be a leading state for veterans, military members, and their families where they can find professional success, affordability, welcoming communities, and, above all, support and respect for their service to our great nation," Governor Parson said in the release. "The legislation we are signing today continues our commitment to our nation's heroes that Missouri will remain one of the best places for veterans and service members to live, work, and raise a family."
One of the bills that was signed into law is the Missouri Rural Access to Capital Act.
According to the bill summary, this act allows investors to make capital investments in a rural fund. This means investors shall be allowed a tax credit for a period of six years, starting with the year the investor made a capital investment.
The tax credit will be equal to a percentage of the capital investment and that percentage will be zero for the first two years and 15% for the following four years.
The tax credits under the act will be non-refundable but can be carried forward to any of the five following tax years. No more than $16 million in tax credits will be authorized in a given calendar year.
Senate Bill 754 was signed by Parson on Tuesday and is a larger crime bill that establishes several other laws, including Max's Law, Blair's Law and a law regarding juvenile parole eligibility. All legislation will take effect on Aug. 28.
