Preliminary 2027 Legislative Priorities
Purpose. This handout states the issues MAVO intends to support as the Missouri General Assembly moves toward the 2027 session. Missouri legislators may begin prefiling legislation on December 1, 2026. MAVO will review final bill language, fiscal notes, committee substitutes, and amendments before issuing position alerts on individual bill numbers.
MAVO’s Guiding Principle
Missouri veterans, service members, military families, survivors, and the agencies that serve them deserve dependable protections and responsible long-term support. MAVO will advocate for measures that expand fair veteran benefits, protect veterans from predatory practices, and provide stable resources for the Missouri Veterans Commission.
1. Full Homestead Property-Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans
MAVO supports legislation providing a full property-tax exemption on a veteran’s primary residence for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating, with appropriate protections for eligible surviving spouses.
MAVO’s preferred legislative path is a stand-alone statute enacted by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor, rather than a new constitutional amendment. This approach should be drafted carefully to establish clear eligibility, a workable county assessor process, appropriate documentation standards, and a reliable effective date.
2. Stop Claim Sharks and Protect Veterans’ VA Claims
MAVO supports strong protections against unaccredited or predatory businesses that charge veterans improper fees for help with VA disability claims and other veterans-benefit matters. Veterans should know that accredited Veteran Service Officers and accredited representatives can provide legitimate assistance without predatory practices.
MAVO will support Missouri legislation that protects veterans while respecting federal authority over VA accreditation and benefits representation. Any Missouri proposal should be reviewed closely in light of federal court decisions holding that states cannot create laws that conflict with federal veterans-benefits rules. The goal is clear: protect veterans without adopting a legally vulnerable framework.
3. Fully Fund the Missouri Veterans Commission
MAVO supports full, dependable funding for the Missouri Veterans Commission. MVC funding is essential to veterans' homes, cemeteries, claims and benefits assistance, outreach, programs, and other services for Missouri veterans and families.
MAVO will advocate during the appropriations process for funding levels that allow MVC to meet present needs, maintain quality services, and plan for the future. Full funding of MVC will remain a standing MAVO priority.
4. Dedicated One-Tenth-of-One-Percent Sales Tax for MVC
MAVO supports exploring a voter-approved one-tenth-of-one-percent statewide sales tax, modeled in concept on Missouri’s dedicated conservation and parks funding structure, with revenue dedicated to the Missouri Veterans Commission.
The revenue should be legally dedicated to MVC and used for MVC-administered veterans services and programs. Before MAVO supports final ballot language or legislation, the proposal should clearly define allowable uses, public accountability, oversight, audit requirements, distribution of funds, and protections against diversion of funds away from Missouri veterans.
5. Personal Property-Tax Relief for Veterans Rated 70% or 90% Disabled
MAVO supports legislation to provide meaningful personal property-tax relief for qualifying veterans based on VA service-connected disability ratings. MAVO will evaluate proposals using disability thresholds of 70% and/or 90%, including the structure and fiscal impact of each option.
The final policy should be simple for veterans and assessors to administer, use clear proof of VA disability status, define whether the benefit is an exemption, credit, or assessed value reduction, and include safeguards to ensure the relief reaches eligible Missouri veterans.
Additional Veterans Legislation
Other veterans-related bills may be filed or amended after prefiling begins. MAVO will evaluate additional measures case by case. Before supporting, opposing, or seeking changes to a bill, MAVO will consider:
• The final bill language
• The effect on Missouri veterans and families
• Administrative feasibility
• Fiscal impact
• Legal defensibility
• Consistency with MAVO’s mission
What Veteran Service Organization Members Can Do
• Watch for MAVO legislative alerts and use mavo4vets.org as the central source for verified bill information, talking points, hearings, and calls to action.
• Contact state representatives and senators as MAVO requests; identify yourself as a constituent, veteran, family member, or supporter, and use your own words.
• Attend hearings, submit written testimony when appropriate, and invite legislators to post, district, chapter, and auxiliary meetings.
• Share accurate information with fellow members, families, and communities. Do not circulate unverified bill summaries or hearing notices.
• Help MAVO identify emerging issues affecting Missouri veterans, military families, survivors, and MVC services.
Important Note
This document is a preliminary policy handout, not a final endorsement of a particular bill number or draft. MAVO support for individual legislation is contingent on review of the final filed language and any subsequent amendments or substitutes. Property-tax and dedicated-tax proposals require careful legal and fiscal drafting because they affect local revenues, state law, and—where applicable—voter approval requirements.