Posted: | January 11, 2019 10:20 AM |
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From: | Senator Daylin Leach |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Expansion of the Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption Program |
Soon I will reintroduce legislation to expand the number of disabled veterans in the Commonwealth who are eligible for real estate tax reductions. Currently, under the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, veterans who have a 100% disability rating from the US Veterans Administration are exempt from paying any real estate taxes on their primary home if they meet other program requirements, such as need. This is wonderful and has helped many veterans in our state who need and deserve our help. The problem is that if you are a 90% disabled veteran, you get no exemption whatsoever; it’s either all or nothing. This seems unfair. Your real estate tax exemption should be commensurate with your level of disability. My legislation would provide a pro-rata exemption on a disabled veterans’ real estate taxes based on the rating given to them by the VA. For example, if the VA considers you 50% disabled, you will get a 50% reduction on your property tax obligation. This will provide some relief for the many veterans who do not have a 100% rating but that are nonetheless somewhat impaired in their ability to earn a living and in need of some property tax relief. Additionally, this legislation would end the “wartime service requirement” that prohibits veterans from participating in the program if they did not serve during “wartime.” This bill was known as Senate Bill 237 during the 2017-2018 session. It was cosponsored by Senators Blake, Greenleaf, Sabatina, Fontana, Brewster, Yudichak, Costa, Hughes, Rafferty, Browne, Farnese and Alloway. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. If you have questions about this legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me. |
Introduced as SB673