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Committee approves waiver of recurring tax penalty for certain disabled veterans
Summary
The Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs passed HB 1400, allowing the Commissioner of State Lands to waive a recurring 10% tax redemption penalty for severely disabled veterans redeeming property from the Commissioner’s holdings; fiscal impact estimated at $10,000 or less.
The Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs on Oct. 12 approved HB 1400, a bill that lets the Commissioner of State Lands waive a recurring 10% penalty for certain severely disabled veterans who redeem tax‑delinquent property from the commissioner’s inventory.
Supporters said the change applies only to veterans who meet a high threshold of disability and would relieve an annual penalty that can accumulate after property is certified to the commissioner. Representative Marcus Richmond (District 52) described the bill as “a pretty simple bill” brought to him by the land commission and said the measure is intended to help veterans “get right with the state” when redeeming property.
Peyton Murphy of the Office of the Commissioner of State Lands told the committee the exemption would apply only when the county has already certified the parcel to the commissioner for collection. “If they are redeeming this in the county, they would still be susceptible to a penalty within that first year,” Murphy said. “So this would only apply in instances where they’re redeeming it from the commissioner of state lands.”
The bill defines qualifying veterans as those awarded special monthly compensation by the Department of Veterans Affairs for loss of or loss of use of an eye, a limb or comparable severe impairments; Representative Richmond emphasized the qualifying injuries are more severe than a disability rating that only entitles a driver’s license plate.
Committee documents list the estimated financial impact as $10,000 or less. Representative Richmond said the amount is “insignificant” to the state budget but “might be significant to the individual that’s disabled.”
Representative Richmond made the motion to pass the bill; the motion was seconded by Senator Peyton. The committee approved the bill by voice vote.
The committee did not identify any additional statutory changes required beyond the exceptions noted in the bill text; members asked clarifying questions about the redemption period and the scope of the exemption.
