PRIA Logo™
MissouriHB25932026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Modifies various provisions relating to military affairs

Sponsored By: Bill Hardwick (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

More military households qualify for relief

Missouri National Guard members and Missouri residents serving in military reserves can receive help from the military family relief fund. Guard members' families remain eligible. Help can include grants, other financial assistance, or services. Assistance requires a panel's recommendation and money approved by the legislature. The law sets no grant amount.

Guard tuition waivers preserve GI Bill benefits

Eligible Missouri National Guard members' tuition and fee waivers are no longer reduced by GI Bill education benefits. The law removes those benefits from payments counted before calculating the state waiver. This can increase the waiver, but the law sets no fixed dollar increase.

Public workers get more military leave

Qualifying state and local public workers get up to 160 paid military leave hours per federal fiscal year, up from 120. That provides up to 40 additional paid hours each year. Workers must belong to the Guard or a military reserve and perform federal military service under valid orders. They must file their orders and a commanding officer's certification to receive leave pay. The leave preserves pay, leave accrual, ratings, and other employment rights.

State-duty troops get pay and insurance help

Missouri organized militia members on state active duty receive pay tied to comparable federal military personnel. Daily pay cannot fall below the rate for an E-5 with maximum longevity and dependents. Members serving more than 30 days also receive a monthly allowance for TRICARE or other government-sponsored insurance premiums during duty. The law states no dollar amount for the pay floor or insurance allowance.

Stronger job protections for Guard members

The law protects covered Guard members' rights to return to work after state active duty. The adjutant general, as well as the governor, can issue covered duty orders. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections also apply after covered state duty lasting more than 30 consecutive days. This includes Missouri Guard members and Missouri employees serving in another state's Guard. Members can sue over alleged violations, and the attorney general can sue employers that violate the law.

Guard tuition waivers face semester caps

A Missouri National Guard member's semester tuition and fee waiver cannot exceed the grant the school received for that member. Schools must limit the waiver to that grant, even when the waiver calculation produces a higher amount. The law does not state the size of any reduction.

Guard members get life insurance access

Missouri National Guard members can buy life insurance through a program officially sponsored by the adjutant general. The Missouri National Guard Association selects the insurer and offers the program exclusively to Guard members. The adjutant general must support requested payroll payments and allow program briefings during training. Members can name or change beneficiaries. The law sets no premiums or coverage amounts and does not provide free insurance.

Veteran-owned businesses get contract preferences

Qualifying honorably discharged veteran-owned businesses get a three-point preference when state and local entities award contracts. Qualifying businesses must be Missouri firms or maintain a Missouri office or place of business. Veteran owners must control the business; partnerships, joint ventures, and corporations need at least 51% veteran ownership. The state also targets 3% of applicable contracts for these businesses when enough qualifying firms bid. Businesses cannot combine this bonus with the service-disabled veteran preference.

Dedicated fund supports Guard counterdrug work

The law creates a Missouri National Guard Counterdrug Revolving Fund for money received through federal asset-forfeiture programs. The adjutant general can use the money only for purposes allowed by the federal program that supplied it. This money cannot replace or reduce state support for standard Guard operations, personnel, or infrastructure. Unused balances carry over after each two-year budget period.

Dedicated fund supports MO GIVES benefits

The law creates a dedicated state fund for MO GIVES program benefits. Money can come from legislative appropriations, gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests. Spending requires legislative approval and must go only toward program benefits. Unused balances carry over after each two-year budget period. This fund provision does not set benefit amounts or who qualifies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bill Hardwick

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Bill Irwin

    Republican • House

  • Brian Seitz

    Republican • House

  • Burt Whaley

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 493 • No: 6

House vote • 4/27/2026

Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed

Yes: 138 • No: 1

House vote • 4/27/2026

House Adopts - SS SCS

Yes: 137 • No: 1

House vote • 4/22/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/21/2026

Third Read and Passed

Yes: 28 • No: 1

House vote • 3/2/2026

Third Read and Passed

Yes: 144 • No: 2

House vote • 3/2/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 2/9/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 1/27/2026

Reported Do Pass

Yes: 21 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Delivered to Secretary of State (G)

    7/9/2026House

  2. Approved by Governor (G)

    7/9/2026House

  3. Delivered to Governor

    5/28/2026House

  4. Signed by President Pro Tem

    5/28/2026Senate

  5. Signed by House Speaker

    5/28/2026House

  6. House Message

    4/27/2026House

  7. Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed - AYES: 138 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

    4/27/2026House

  8. House Adopts - SS SCS AYES: 137 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

    4/27/2026House

  9. Taken Up

    4/27/2026House

  10. Reported Do Pass - AYES: 6 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0

    4/22/2026House

  11. Voted Do Pass

    4/22/2026House

  12. Executive Session Completed

    4/22/2026House

  13. Referred: Fiscal Review

    4/21/2026House

  14. Reported to the House with... - SS SCS

    4/21/2026House

  15. Third Read and Passed - AYES: 28 NOES: 1 PRESENT: 0

    4/21/2026Senate

  16. SS Adopted

    4/21/2026Senate

  17. SS Offered

    4/21/2026Senate

  18. Taken Up for Third Reading

    4/21/2026Senate

  19. Reported Do Pass

    4/21/2026Senate

  20. Voted Do Pass

    4/20/2026Senate

  21. Executive Session Held

    4/20/2026Senate

  22. Executive Session Scheduled - Monday, April 20, 2026, 3:30 p.m., Senate Lounge - 3rd Floor

    4/16/2026

  23. Referred: Fiscal Oversight

    4/13/2026Senate

  24. SCS Reported Do Pass

    4/8/2026Senate

  25. SCS Voted Do Pass

    4/1/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Truly Agreed

    4/27/2026

    PDF

  • Perfected

    2/25/2026

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    1/27/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Substitute

    1/27/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/7/2026

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation