Committee advances bill clarifying surviving‑spouse property tax exemption for veterans covered by PACT Act

House Bill 2,508 and companion House Joint Resolution 133 were presented to the Senate Committee on Local Government to clarify state property tax exemptions for surviving spouses of veterans whose service‑connected conditions were later recognized as presumptive by federal law.

Senator Alvarado laid out the bill for Senator Hughes and explained the timing gap it addresses: if a veteran died before the federal PACT Act recognized a particular condition as service‑connected, that veteran may not have been rated 100% disabled during life and therefore the surviving spouse could be denied the state’s homestead exemption. The bill would align state practice to allow the surviving spouse to qualify even when the veteran’s condition was recognized as presumptive after the veteran’s death.

Jim Brennan, legislative director for the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations, testified in support: he described the PACT Act as addressing burn‑pit and other toxic exposures and said passage of the bill would “ensure the property tax exemption will be extended to the spouse as long as they remain unmarried.” Brennan also told the committee the bill has “no material fiscal impact” per his testimony.

The committee voted to report House Bill 2,508 and HJR 133 to the full Senate. Senator West moved that House Bill 2,508 be reported and the clerk announced the roll with “There being 5 ayes, 0 nays. House Bill 25 08 does pass.” The bill and the joint resolution were left pending for call of the chair prior to further floor action.