Property tax relief clears Missouri Legislature

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri lawmakers have passed a measure intended to provide relief from large property tax increases.

The legislation seeks to ensure governmental entities reduce their property tax rates whenever the assessed property values rise by more than the rate of inflation. Some governments currently are avoiding doing so because of what critics describe as a loophole in the law.

The bill sent to the governor also expands property tax breaks to low-income and middle-class seniors and disabled homeowners.

The House passed the bill 142-5 Friday. The Senate passed it without dissent earlier this week.