Legislator urges full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans

Representative Soder told the Joint Committee on Revenue that H 3,245 would allow municipalities to grant a full property tax exemption for veterans or surviving spouses rated 100% disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

"If passed, this crucial bill would empower our municipalities to grant a full property tax exemption for veterans or their surviving spouses who are rated a 100% disabled by the US Department of Veterans Affairs," Representative Soder said, adding the exemption would apply only to the veteran's primary residence with the deed tied to the veteran or spouse.

Nut graf: Soder said Massachusetts currently provides limited relief by comparison to neighboring states, citing examples in New York, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and a recent Connecticut law (Public Act 24‑46). She told the committee roughly 300,000 veterans live in the commonwealth, about 60,000 with a service‑connected disability and roughly 20,000 with a disability rating above 70 percent, figures she used to underline the policy's potential reach.

Details and differences: Representative Soder criticized the current maximum exemptions for severely injured veterans as insufficient and said prior measures such as the HERO Act of 2024 did not go far enough. She described proposals in other states, including an Assembly bill in New York (A74) and Connecticut's Public Act 24‑46, as contexts for Massachusetts policy choices.

Discussion vs. outcome: Testimony was explanatory and persuasive in tone; no committee vote or direction was recorded during the hearing.

Ending: Representative Soder urged a favorable report on H 3,245 and said the exemption would help disabled veterans remain in their homes amid rising housing costs.