Gov. Kehoe signs pro-business bills into law

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry thanks Gov. Mike Kehoe for signing several pro-business bills into law this week that were passed during the 2025 legislative session. These bills address many of the business community’s top concerns: public safety, workforce development and the cost of doing business. 

Bills that the Missouri Chamber supported include:

• SB 71 (Gregory) – This bill creates the First Responder Recruitment and Retention Act to give first responders and their children free college tuition. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics must pursue an associate degree or bachelor’s degree that relates to their career as a first responder. Under the act, the responders and their children can receive a tuition waiver for up to five years. This legislation accomplishes one of the recommendations of the Missouri Chamber’s Safer Missouri, Stronger Missouri report: to take proactive steps to stabilize and grow the first responder workforce in Missouri.
• SB 150 (Carter) – This legislation contains a number of provisions to help grow and sustain a strong workforce, including:
  •  Creating a Career-Tech Certificate Program. The program will reimburse students for the cost of tuition, books and fees as they work toward a certificate or credential in an occupation experiencing a workforce shortage. Training programs could include certified nursing assistant (CNA) programs, emergency medical technician (EMT) programs, and commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs. 
  • Waiving professional licensing requirements for spouses of Missouri law enforcement officers.
  • Renaming the Health Professional Student Loan Repayment Program to the Missouri State Loan Repayment Program (MOSLRP), with a focus on supporting health care professionals who work in high-need areas. 
  • Establishing a STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund that will allow high school students to conduct STEM activities at state, national and international competitions.
• HB 1041 (Diehl) – This bill reduces red tape for domestic brewers by decreasing the fees for inspection of malt liquor manufactured in American breweries. HB 1041 lowers the fee for American-brewed malt liquor from $1.86 per barrel to $0.62 per barrel, incentivizing domestic brewers to produce their products in Missouri.
• SB 68 (Henderson) – This bill supports STEM career awareness. A STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund will be established to allow high school students to conduct STEM activities at state, national and international competitions. It also extends the teacher externship program by repealing its sunset provision. The program has been in place since 2019 and allows K-12 educators to gain practical experience by working with local businesses and career centers. 
• HB 594 (Perkins) – This bill includes a provision that allows corporations to deduct 100% of their capital gains income. This corporate deduction is triggered by a reduction in Missouri’s top corporate income tax rate to 4.5% or lower. It also authorizes a sales tax exemption for broadband equipment and related machinery, and equipment used by broadband service providers. This exemption will apply for tax years beginning on or after January 1.