Five New Bills Honor MO Veterans

Details of new bills honoring vets

Here are the details of the new Missouri laws honoring veterans:

HB 111 specifically provides protections for funeral homes and veterans organizations that work together to ensure unclaimed remains of veterans are interred with dignity, usually in a veterans’ cemetery. Once in effect, this bill will provide immunity to the funeral home and veterans’ organization from any suit for negligence related to the handling or interment of remains, if they follow prescribed statutory steps. House Bill 111 will limit the number of instances in which remains of a veteran are denied proper interment while sitting unclaimed for years.

HB 678  marks May 1 by statute as the annual Silver Star Families of America Day. Silver Star Families of America Day is designated as a day for honoring the wounded and ill members of the armed forces in the state of Missouri, and for recognizing the efforts of the Silver Star Families of America in honoring injured veterans across the United States.

HB 82 gradually reduces taxes on military retirement income. The bill authorizes a graduated income tax deduction from a taxpayer’s Missouri adjusted gross income for a percentage of any military retirement income. The deduction begins Jan. 1, 2010 at 15 percent of any military retirement income and increases by 15 percent each year. By 2016, 100 percent of an individual’s military retirement income will be exempt from income tax.

HB 400 will allow municipalities and local governments to opt into providing free metered parking to veterans during events that have state-issued tags indicating that they are a Medal of Honor winner, Purple Heart winner, Silver Star winner, former prisoner of war or Bronze Star winner.

HB 683 establishes the “Heroes Way Interstate Interchange Designation Program” to honor Missourians killed in action while on active duty in the military in Iraq or Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. Relatives of those killed can apply for an interstate interchange to be designated in honor of the fallen military member. The applications, which must be sponsored by a current member of the General Assembly, will be submitted for approval to the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight.

“While we cannot thank our veterans enough for their selflessness, for their service or for their sacrifice, we can at very least honor them with a special recognition, specific benefits, and by ensuring that their remains are laid to rest properly,” remarked Gov. Nixon.