Mo. House OKs military, first-responder benefits

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House endorses legislation giving retired military personnel a tax break and allowing family members of first-responders killed on duty to get financial benefits.

The two bills were each given first-round approval Monday and need another vote before moving to the Senate.

Under the pension legislation, the state would gradually make a larger portion of military retirement benefits tax exempt until the pensions are completely tax exempt in 2016. Supporters say it would cost the state about $16 million per year not to tax military retirement benefits.

Lawmakers also endorsed a bill that would allow the families of police officers, firefighters and paramedics who die in the line of duty to claim a $25,000 state benefit.