This bill revises the Disabled Veteran Property Tax Assistance Program by removing the income limit for eligibility and expanding the assistance to disabled veterans rated at 80% or 90% disabled, in addition to those rated at 100%. The bill amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA), specifically sections 15-6-301, 15-6-302, and 15-6-311, to reflect these changes. Notably, it deletes the previous requirement that veterans must be rated at least 60% disabled to qualify for assistance and instead allows those rated at 80% or higher to be eligible.

Additionally, the bill introduces new provisions for determining property tax assistance based on the veteran's disability rating and qualifying income. It establishes a new income threshold and percentage multipliers for tax reductions based on the veteran's disability rating, which will be adjusted annually using the implicit price deflator. The bill also clarifies that the property tax exemption remains effective as long as the qualifying income requirements are met and the property is the primary residence of the veteran or their surviving spouse. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, with applicability to property tax years beginning after December 31, 2023.

Statutes affected:
HB0223_1.pdf: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311
HB0223_2.pdf: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311
HB0223_3.pdf: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311
HB0223_4.pdf: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311
Amended: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311
Introduced: 15-6-301, 15-6-302, 15-6-311