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Committee approves one-time transfer of disabled veteran homestead exemption for surviving spouses
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Summary
Senate Bill 180 would let a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran transfer the veteranhomestead property tax exemption one time if they move; committee members confirmed the transfer is capped at the original exemption amount and reported the bill favorably.
Senate Bill 180, brought to the committee on behalf of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, would allow the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who had a service-connected disability and a homestead property tax exemption to transfer that exemption one time if the spouse moves.
"This allows a one-time transfer of the veteran's benefit on the homestead exemption," said the department representative. The departments executive counsel, Junkin, explained the bill is intended to let surviving spouses downsize or move closer to family without losing the homestead exemption if they qualify.
Representative Billings asked whether portability applies to the full value of the new home or is capped. Junkin confirmed that "it's capped at the previous exemption." Committee members expressed support; Representative Weible moved to report the bill favorably and the committee reported SB 180 without objection.
Why this matters: The bill preserves a financial benefit for surviving spouses of disabled veterans by allowing a single portability event rather than forcing a spouse to forfeit the exemption if they move.
The committee did not record a roll-call tally during the committee action; the bill was reported favorably to the next legislative stage.
