What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for the alternate veterans property tax exemption to include immediate family members of armed forces members killed in active duty.
Why it matters
Broadened Support for Grieving Families. By including not just parents but also spouses, children, and siblings of service members killed in action, the bill recognizes the wider circle of people directly impacted by such losses and extends tangible state support to them.
Potential Financial Relief for More Households. Immediate family members who inherit or reside in the home of a fallen service member may now qualify for the alternate veterans property tax exemption, making it easier for them to remain in their homes and reducing a potential financial burden during a time of loss.
Local Government Discretion. The bill gives counties, cities, towns, villages, and school districts the option to adopt this expanded eligibility, meaning the benefits are not automatic everywhere but can be tailored by local governments according to their community’s needs and fiscal capacity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Veterans Tax Exemption
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Veterans Tax Exemption
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Michael DenDekker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5008
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to allowing the immediate family of a member of the armed forces killed in active duty to qualify for the alternate veterans exemption
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 7 of section 458-a of the real property tax law, as added by chapter 326 of the laws of 2000 and paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 518 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
7. (a) As used in this subdivision, "Gold Star [Parent"] Family Member" shall mean the parent, spouse, child or sibling of a [child] person who died in the line of duty while serving in the United States armed forces during a period of war.
(b) A county, city, town, village or school district may adopt a local law to include a Gold Star [Parent] Family Member within the definition of "qualified owner", as provided in paragraph (c) of subdivision one of this section, and to include property owned by a Gold Star [Parent] Family Member within the definition of "qualifying residential real property" as provided in paragraph (d) of subdivision one of this section, provided that such property shall be the primary residence of the Gold Star [Parent] Family Member.
(c) The additional exemption provided for in paragraph (c) of subdivision two of this section shall not apply to real property owned by a Gold Star [Parent] Family Member.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09862-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to allowing the immediate family of a member of the armed forces killed in active duty to qualify for the alternate veterans exemption
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill allows a county, city, town, village or school district to adopt a local law extending the alternative veterans exemption from property tax to the parent, spouse, child or sibling of a person who died in the line of duty while serving in the United States armed forces during a period of war. Previously this benefit was only extended to Gold-Star Parents, and not immediate family members.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - The bill amends the real property tax law by modifying subdivision 7 of section 458-a of chapter 326 of the laws of 2000. The bill changes the definition from Gold-Star Parent to Family Member, defined as the parent, spouse, child or sibling or a person who dies in the line of duty while serving in the United States armed forces during a period of war.
Section 2 - This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
In recognition of their service to our country, veterans and military service members are granted certain benefits when they return home, including an alternative veterans exemption from property tax. Unfortunately, when a military service member is killed in the line of duty, that benefit dies with them. Accordingly, this bill would restore the benefit of a limited property tax exemption to immediate family members of gold star families, a benefit they would enjoy had their loved one survived.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
TBD.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.