The bill amends the General Property Tax Act to provide tax exemptions for real property used and owned as a homestead by disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. Specifically, it establishes that a disabled veteran or a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for the exemption prior to their death can claim this exemption as long as the surviving spouse does not remarry. The exemption applies to any homestead property owned by the surviving spouse, including properties acquired after the veteran's death. To obtain the exemption, an application must be filed with the local assessing officer within the calendar year for which the exemption is claimed, and the taxes must be canceled for any year in which the eligible individual acquires title to the exempt property.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions for prorating the exemption if the individual does not use and own the property as a homestead for the entire tax year. It also specifies that real property exempt under this section after December 31, 2025, will be subject to the specific tax levied under the disabled veteran's homestead specific tax act, which must also be prorated in cases of partial exemption. The definition of "disabled veteran" is updated to clarify eligibility criteria, and the term "owned" is defined to specify the legal title requirements for claiming the exemption. The enactment of this bill is contingent upon the passage of House Bill No. 4443.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 211.7