Since 1968 the PA Constitution authorized the Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program to provide eligible disabled veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the Federal VA with full exemptions from real property taxes to prevent them from losing their homes due to an inability to work. Yet in recent years, the veterans community has identified several key enhancements within the program that need to be remedied through a constitutional amendment. To that end, I will soon be introducing legislation to amend the Pennsylvania state constitution to ensure the continued property tax benefit to disabled veterans by implementing several key changes to the Real Estate Tax Exemption Program.

As identified by statewide veterans groups representing the Commonwealth’s veteran population, my bill proposes the following changes:

• Removing the wartime provision from the program, thus allowing for all residents of the Commonwealth who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component or National Guard who were discharged or released under honorable conditions and are rated 100% disabled or compensated at the rate of 100% by the Federal VA to receive the real estate tax exemption.
• Providing the exemption to the surviving spouse of an eligible individual who died in the line of duty, was taken as a prisoner of war, or is declared missing in action until that spouse remarries.
• Creating an option for political subdivisions to extend eligibility for the exemption to an eligible veteran with a service-connected disability rating below 100% from payment of an equal portion of property taxes that is proportional to the veteran’s disability rating and as determined by that political subdivision. Under this proposal the benefit is applied as a class rather than on an individual basis.

Please join me in sponsoring this critical legislation to help honor our veterans whose service and sacrifice has helped to ensure the freedom and prosperity of our communities throughout the Commonwealth and to recognize the benefits they have earned by their service and sacrifice.