The New Bedford City Council on Jan. 8 voted to refer a request to adopt provisions of the Massachusetts HERO Act related to disabled veterans’ property tax exemptions to the Committee on Ordinance for review.

Councilor Sean Oliver, speaking in support of the referral, said most of the state package will take effect automatically but "there are certain provisions and clauses that have to be accepted by the individual towns and cities for them to take into effect." He said adopting the provisions would expand local property-tax exemptions available to disabled veterans, in some cases up to 100 percent, and urged colleagues to allow committee review so the council could understand the clauses and potential fiscal effects.

The item was a written motion introduced by Councilors Choquette, Oliver and Abreu and the council approved referral to the Committee on Ordinance by voice vote. No committee action or final local adoption occurred at the meeting.

Next steps: The Committee on Ordinance will review the HERO Act provisions and report back with recommendations before the council takes any final action that would change local tax-exemption rules.