The 51st Annual Conference of the Silver Haired Legislature took place at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City on October 15, 16, and 17. The 75 delegates in attendance chose their Top Five Priorities and formulated plans to advocate for senior issues during the coming legislative session.
After spirited debates in the Legislative chambers, the delegates chose these issues as their Top Five Priorities for the 2025 legislative session:
- Improve the Missouri Property Tax Credit aka Circuit Breaker and add annual indexing
- Increase the Personal Needs Allowance and add annual indexing
- Increase excise tax on tobacco products to benefit AAA transportation fund
- Raise the Aged and Disabled Waiver from 85% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to 133% of the FPL, as it is for MO HealthNet expansion.
- Increase the Medicaid asset level
Anyone interested in learning further details about the priorities of the Silver Haired Legislature is encouraged to call or e-mail Debbie Blessing, Northeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging at 800-235-5503 or info@nemoaaa.com or SHL Delegate, Andy Jackson, at 660-349-0988 or email andyjack@marktwain.net
Missouri’s Silver Haired Legislature was founded in 1973, the first in the nation after the Older Americans Act was amended to include advocacy groups. The SHL is composed of fifteen volunteers from each of the ten statewide Area Agencies on Aging. These 150 senior advocates, elected by their peers, identify and advocate for issues critical to older Missourians.
