Missouri Senate gives preliminary approval to bill allowing income tax deduction for some veteran survivor benefits

The Missouri Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to Senate Bill 59, a measure sponsored by Sen. Jill Carter of Granby that would allow an income tax deduction for certain survivor benefits for veterans.

The bill would authorize an income tax deduction for those survivor benefits so payments to survivors would not be subject to state income tax, supporters said. The measure now needs further action to move to the Missouri House of Representatives for consideration.

Sen. Jill Carter of Granby, the bill’s sponsor, described the measure as authorizing an income tax deduction for certain survivor benefits for veterans and allowing those benefits to be passed to survivors without state income tax withheld. During floor discussion, Missouri Senate Minority Floor Leader Doug Beck of Afton said he had reservations about targeted tax breaks. "But I would like to point out in the past, we've talked in this body about tax breaks that only affect certain people and don't affect the entire holders. It picks out winners and losers," Beck said.

Senate Bill 59 received preliminary approval on the Senate floor; if it receives the additional approval required under Senate procedure, it would be sent to the Missouri House of Representatives for similar consideration. Senators are in the fifth week of the 2025 regular legislative session and committee hearings are continuing.

No formal vote tally was recorded in the available transcript excerpt. The Senate floor discussion and the sponsor’s description were summarized on the record; the transcript indicates the bill cleared the Senate’s preliminary step but does not supply the roll-call numbers in the excerpt provided.