By Adam Allington, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO – Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed a series of bills into law today that benefit the state's active service members and veterans.
Nixon made stops at several veteran's homes, in Warrensburg, Mount Vernon and as well as one in North St. Louis County.
The Governor said one of the new laws will make it easier for active-service members to vote in elections.
"House Bill 1524 authorizes the Missouri Secretary of State to send absentee ballots and voter registration materials electronically, to absent military members and oversees voters," said Nixon. "This will ensure that the men and women defending this country are not short-changed in choosing our leaders"
That law also outlines set preferences for service-disabled veterans bidding on government contracts.
Nixon also announced increased funding for the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund, which he says will benefit service members of all ages.
"That fund helps veterans homes like this one, and veteran's cemeteries as well funding for the important veteran's service officer's program," said Nixon. "We are very committed to standing up that program so that each veteran has the capacity to get to a service office and work through the labyrinth of federal requirements and make sure that they get the benefits that they are so deserving of."
The new laws received broad support in the General Assembly.
Nixon also took a moment to remind the crowd in attendance that 2 Missouri service members have been killed in action over the past two weeks.