Missouri legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Missouri SB1245: Creates a preference for veterans in the awarding of public contracts
Status: In committee, March 24, 2026
SB 1245 - This act creates new provisions establishing a preference in state contracts for certain military veteran-owned enterprise. Specifically, in letting contracts for the performance of any job or service, all agencies, departments, institutions, and other entities of this state and of each political subdivision of this state shall give a three-point bonus preference to honorably discharged veteran-owned enterprises that are doing business as Missouri firms, corporations, or individuals or that maintain Missouri offices or places of business. The Commissioner of Administration is required to have a goal of letting at least 3% of all state contracts to honorably discharged veteran-owned enterprises, except as otherwise provided in the act. This act is substantially similar to HB 714 (2025). SCOTT SVAGERA
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE BILL NO. 1245 103RD GENERA L ASSEMBLY INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BROWN (26). 5043S.01I KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary To repeal section 34.074, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to veteran preferences for contracts. Section A. Section 34.074, RSMo, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 34.069 and 34.074, to read as follows: 34.069. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Honorably discharged veteran", any individual who is honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Armed Forces as certified by the appropriate federal agency responsible for the administration of veterans' affairs; (2) "Honorably discharged veteran-owned enterprise": (a) A sole proprietorship owned and controlled by an honorably discharged veteran; (b) A partnership or joint venture owned and controlled by honorably discharged veterans in which at least fifty-one percent of the ownership interest is held by honorably discharged veterans and the management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the honorably discharged veteran owners; or (c) A corporation or other entity: SB 1245 a. At least fifty-one percent of which is owned by one or more honorably discharged veterans or, if stock is issued, at least fifty-one percent of the stock is owned by one or more honorably …