House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022 Regular Session

Posted:	November 17, 2021 12:39 PM
From:	Representative Napoleon J. Nelson
To:	All House members
Subject:	Disabled Veteran Property Tax Amnesty Program

It has recently come to my attention that a long-time Disabled Veteran who moved into my community in 2017 is currently in bankruptcy due to several years of delinquent real estate taxes. This veteran who was previously enrolled in the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption Program in his prior residence did not realize that he must reapply for the program immediately upon relocating. This man who gave his body in service to our country might lose his home for taxes owed that he was otherwise exempt from if he only understood our state and county bureaucracy. Our state should be doing everything it can to make it easier for disabled veterans to access these benefits, not trying to collect money they shouldn’t have to owe. Veterans in Pennsylvania deserve better. That is why I am introducing legislation to establish the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption Amnesty Program. Under this program, disabled veterans who have applied and been approved for the real estate exemption program but have outstanding property taxes in the five years prior to enrolling would have the opportunity to have those liabilities forgiven if they would have otherwise been eligible for the exemption program during those years. Veterans should not have to worry about receiving the benefits they have earned. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation that will ensure that this does not happen to another veteran again in Pennsylvania.
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Introduced as HB2297