There are several legislative proposals in Missouri this year that would create a property tax exemption for disabled military veterans and Purple Heart recipients. The exemption would also be made available to Gold Star spouses – those are people whose military spouse was killed in action.
One of those would offset the cost of the tax exemption by raising taxes on both tobacco and hemp products sold in Missouri. Revenues from the property tax exemption would be made up by increasing Missouri’s tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products by 10%.
Bruce Campkey is a disabled military veteran who testified in favor of the bill this week during a Missouri House Committee on Veterans and Armed Forces hearing.
“I currently suffer from essential tremors. It’s difficult to eat,” he said. “All bills, or everything is not perfect, but we need to start somewhere.”
Ron Leone, Executive Director of the Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Store Association, testified against the bill because of the proposed sales tax hike.
“Every year, fewer and fewer people are using tobacco products, and therefore fewer and fewer people will be generating the tax you need to support veterans,” he said.
House Bill 2535 is sponsored by State Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker. He said even with the proposed tobacco tax hike, Missouri’s cigarette prices would still be cheaper than in most surrounding states and would thus generate revenue for the proposed property tax exemption.
A vote on the proposal has not yet been scheduled.
Copyright © 2026 · Missourinet