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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 7, 2020 11:55 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John P. Sabatina, Jr. |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Expand Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, Pro-rata relief. |
| Soon I will introduce legislation to expand the Disabled Veterans' Real Estate Tax Exemption Program so its benefits are expanded to more disabled veterans in Pennsylvania on a pro-rata basis. 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. Our disabled veterans have made significant sacrifice for our Country and Commonwealth and are much deserving of this program. However, the unfortunate situations often arise where a 90% disabled veteran receives no exemption whatsoever. The program is only made available to veterans who are 100% disabled. This seems unfair. Your real estate tax exemption should be commensurate with your level of disability. This 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 previously co-sponsored by Senators: STREET, BREWSTER, FONTANA, TARTAGLIONE, HUGHES, SANTARSIERO, BROWNE, HUTCHINSON, BLAKE, YUDICHAK, and TOMLINSON |