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Committee hears support for homestead exemption expansion for surviving military spouses
Summary
At a seventh hearing on House Bill 22, witnesses including Carl Price of the Military Order of the Purple Heart urged an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving military spouses mirroring benefits for first responders; the committee accepted an amendment to align definitions with existing first‑responder language.
The House Ways and Means Committee heard testimony supporting House Bill 22, which would authorize an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving military spouses. Vice Chair Thomas moved an amendment to mirror the language currently applied to surviving first responders, adding a classification for military spouses eligible for an enhanced homestead benefit.
Carl Price, legislative chair for the Military Order of the Purple Heart (Department of Ohio), testified in favor of HB22, describing economic pressures facing surviving spouses and providing comparative data on state practices. Price said Ohio ranks high in veteran population and argued an enhanced homestead exemption would offset long‑term property tax pressure on surviving military families.
Members thanked Mr. Price and discussed related proposals for veteran property‑tax relief and disability exemptions; no in‑person opposition testimony was offered and the chair closed the seventh hearing on HB22. Committee staff were asked to incorporate submitted written testimony and supplemental information into the record for further consideration.
