House bill would broaden Pennsylvania property-tax exemption for disabled veterans and surviving spouses

HARRISBURG — Lawmakers and veterans advocates on the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment to broaden Pennsylvania’s real-estate tax exemption for disabled veterans and extend certain benefits to surviving spouses and members of the National Guard and reserves.

Representative Probst, the bill’s sponsor, told the committee the current exemption is “far too narrow” and described cases of veterans who cannot access relief under existing rules. “House Bill 1257 is a joint resolution to amend the constitution to ensure we are properly recognizing the sacrifices and the repercussions of those sacrifices by those who have worn the uniform of our nation and our commonwealth,” she said.

The bill would (1) align the constitutional language with federal Veterans Affairs terminology; (2) remove the requirement that qualifying service occurred during a declared war or armed conflict; (3) extend eligibility to reserve and National Guard members; (4) permit political subdivisions — counties, municipalities or…