The Silver Haired Legislature was created in 1973 by a small group of seniors whose specific purpose was the advocate for senior issues. The Missouri group was the first organization of its type in the United States.
Some of the earliest proposals passed into law include Exploitation of the Elderly, the MO Senior RX Program, implementation of elder abuse laws, and the deletion of sales tax on pharmaceuticals.
The Silver Haired Legislature (SHL) group is is a formally elected body of citizens 60 years of age and older that promote conscientious legislative advocacy for Missouri’s older adults. All members are volunteers who serve without pay.
Delegates are elected annually in May from each of Missouri’s ten Area Agencies on Aging, and all legislators meet annually for a model legislative session at the State Capitol to deliver five priority proposals.
SHL 2024 Top Five Legislative Priorities
- Increased Funding for Transportation to Provide Additional Options for Seniors
- Increased Accessibility to Public Buildings for Individuals with Disabilities
- Required Special Dementia Training in Long-Term Care Facilities
- Increase the Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) to $100 Per Month with an Inflation Rider
- Money Recovered by MO HealthNet to be Returned to the MO HealthNet Program
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SHL Interview: 50 Years of Successful Advocacy. Interview with SHL member, Dorothy Knowles, who shares the wonderful story of SHL and impact on KY3 News, Springfield, MO.
Some of Missouri’s SHL accomplishments include:
2023 | No tax on Social Security; Property Tax Reform
2023 | Real Estate Tax Relief for Seniors
2021 | Electronic Monitoring in Long-Term Care Facilities
2021 | Approval of Medical Marijuana
2020 | Asset Limit Increase for MO HealthNet Eligibility
2019 | Senior Farmers market Nutrition Program;
2019 | Senior Services Growth and Development Program
2016 | Senior Savings Protection Act
2015 | Deletion of Sales Tax on Pharmaceuticals
2012 | Strengthened protections for elderly and disabled Missourians against financial exploitation
2010 | Notification of liens against real estate property
2009 | Strengthened pre-need funeral regulations
2009 | Increased personal needs allowance for Medicaid residents in long-term care facilities
2006 | Appropriation of $1 million for home-delivered meals
2005 | Modification of provision in various healthcare and social service programs
2004 | Creation of Missouri Homestead Act
2003 | Nursing Home Bill SB 556
2003 | Financial Support for the Missouri Senior Rx Program
2002 | Creation of the Missouri Senior Rx Program
2001 | Creation of a Department of Health & Senior Services
2000 | Addressed Financial Exploitation of the Elderly
1999 | Permanent funding for Community Leaders Assisting the Insured in Missouri (CLAIM) within Division of Aging Budget
1999 | Pharmaceutical tax credits; Permanent funding for CLAIM
1998 | Increased dependency deduction on Missouri income taxes
1998 | Revision of the “Circuit Breaker” Law
1997 | Revision of the “Circuit Breaker” Law
1997 | Improvement of regulations for managed care and HMO’s;
1997 | Creation of a permanent presidential primary
1997 | Limiting Dept. of Revenue to no more than 5% administrative fee for home delivered meals trust fund
1996 | Reduction of Missouri sales tax on groceries
1996 | Private pensions taxed same as government pensions
1996 | Enforcement of auto liability insurance
1996 | Improved regulation for managed care and HMOs
1995 | Proof of auto liability insurance
1994 | Revision of the juvenile code
1993 | Nursing home inspections
1991 | Revision of Elder Abuse Protection Legislation
1991 | Revision of Guardianship Code
1991 | Revision of guardianship code
1991 | Employee disqualification list as an amendment to the elderly abuse law
1990 | Healthcare Surrogates
1988 | Protection of volunteers from civil suits
1987 | Improvement of statutory lien law
1987 | Elder Abuse Protection Legislation
1985 | Statutory Liens Against Real Property
1984 | Right to Forego Maintenance Medical Treatment
1983 | Statutory Recognition of the Division of Aging and AAAs
1982 | Revised Guardianship Code
1982 | Durable Power of Attorney to Make Healthcare Decisions
1982 | Providing handicapped parking privileges
1982 | Revision of “Circuit Breaker” Law
1981 | Regulation of supplemental health insurance policies
1980 | Strengthened Medigap insurance law
1980 | 911 system
1980 | Licensing and regulation of life care contracts
1980 | Providing handicapped parking privileges
1979 | Revision of the utilicare program
1978 | Utility Cost Relief
1978 | Utility cost relief
1978 | Nursing home patient’s bill of rights
1978 | Compensation for victims of crime
1977 | Elimination of sales tax on pharmaceuticals
1977 | Substitution of generic for brand name drugs
1976 | Revision of probate code
1976 | Provision of prosthetic devices
1976 | Revision of the nursing home inspection law; Revision of probate code; Appropriation for in home services
1976 | Funding for In-Home Services
1975 | Pension Benefits for Retired Public School Teachers
1975 | Increased Drunk Driving Penalties
1975 | Missouri elderly and handicapped transportation assistance program
1974 | “Circuit breaker” housing tax credit for seniors
1974 | Increased Funding for Transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped
1973 | Appropriations for transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped
1973 | Property Tax Relief
1973 | Checkoff on Income Tax to Support Elections