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Committee restores larger homestead acreage for 100% disabled veterans
Summary
Lawmakers voted to restore a larger homestead acreage allowance for fully disabled veterans after testimony that a prior change to the definition reduced exemptions and imposed surveying costs and higher property taxes for some veterans.
The Revenue & Tax committee approved legislation to restore a larger homestead acreage threshold for 100% disabled veterans, reversing part of a prior change that had reduced the acreage considered part of a primary residence.
Senator Jim Petty presented House Bill 11-29 and said the bill "adds back" the prior acreage allowance so fully disabled veterans would again be eligible for a larger homestead exemption. Paul Gehring and DFA staff explained the issue stemmed from last session's attempt to create statewide uniformity for collectors, which had the unintended result of reducing acreage for some disabled veterans and increasing their property tax bills.
Senators described instances in which county collectors had previously accepted larger acreage interpretations and said the 40-acre definition adopted earlier resulted in a hardship for some 100% disabled veterans who previously benefitted from larger homestead acreage. Lawmakers also noted additional costs veterans faced to survey and reestablish homestead boundaries if smaller acreage was enforced.
Senator Petty closed by saying he appreciated discussion and requested a favorable vote. A motion to pass was adopted by voice vote; no roll-call tally appears in the transcript excerpt.
Committee members discussed options including a potential grandfathering approach for affected veterans, but sponsors said a separate bill could address grandfathering because of time constraints.
The legislation as discussed would apply specifically to the 100% disabled-veteran homestead exemption and not to the general homestead rules for other taxpayers, per sponsor remarks.
