Committee hears veterans' top priorities; Proctor files Veterans Valor Act, tax-exemption bill for Guard and Reserve

Representative Proctor told the Committee on Veterans and Military on Oct. 12 that leadership from veteran service organizations identified disabled-veteran property tax relief as the summit's top priority and that he has filed legislation to respond to that request.

The 5th Annual Veterans Strategic Summit brought leaders from the VFW, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Vietnam Veterans of America and other groups together to develop and vote on policy priorities, Proctor said. He described the summit’s process: a plenary panel, breakout sessions with legislators, and a ranked vote by attendees to establish a short list of initiatives for the coming session.

The summit’s top item — property tax relief for disabled veterans — is packaged in legislation Proctor called the Veterans Valor Act (filed as House Bill 2005). Proctor said the bill would provide a rebate-style exemption rather than an up-front local exemption: homeowners would pay property taxes and file for a state rebate. He described the proposed benefit as a 75% exemption for veterans who are 100% permanently and totally disabled or 100% disabled due to unemployability; adding 100% disabled veterans to the prior proposal…