LCO 1 of 17 General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1276 January Session, 2025 AN ACT CONCERNING A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR VETERANS WHO ARE PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED BASED ON A DISABILITY RATING OF ONE HUNDRED PER CENT AND A PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR GOLD STAR SPOUSES. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (Effective from passage) In each town in which the grand list 1 for the assessment year commencing October 1, 2024, has been 2 published and lodged for public inspection on or before the effective 3 date of this section: 4 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-55 of the general 5 statutes, such town's assessor or board of assessors may disregard, 6 adjust and republish said grand list not later than thirty days after the 7 effective date of this section; 8 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of section 12-110 9 of the general statutes, such town's board of assessment appeals shall 10 meet to hear appeals related to the assessment of property during the 11 period commencing sixty days after the effective date of this section and 12 concluding ninety days after the effective date of this section, on 13 business days as described in said subsection; 14 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection 15 (a) of section 12-111 of the general statutes and section 12-112 of the 16 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 2 of 17 general statutes, appeals from the doings of such town's assessors shall 17 be heard or entertained by such town's board of assessment appeals if 18 any such appeal is made on or before the fifteenth day after the effective 19 date of this section; 20 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of 21 subsection (a) of section 12-111 of the general statutes, such town's board 22 of assessment appeals shall notify each taxpayer who filed an appeal, 23 whether to advise of the date, time and place of the appeal hearing or to 24 advise that such board has elected not to conduct an appeal hearing, in 25 accordance with said subdivisions, not later than sixty days after the 26 effective date of this section; 27 (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-120 of the general 28 statutes, such town's assessor or board of assessors shall transmit to the 29 Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management not later than one 30 hundred twenty days after the effective date of this section an abstract 31 of the assessment list that has been examined and corrected by the board 32 of assessment appeals; and 33 (6) Notwithstanding the provisions of title 7 of the general statutes, 34 chapter 204 of the general statutes, section 12-142 of the general statutes 35 and any special act, municipal charter or home rule ordinance, if such 36 town has adopted a budget or levied taxes for the fiscal year ending June 37 30, 2026, such town may, by vote of its legislative body or, in a 38 municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, by vote of 39 the board of selectmen, (A) amend its budget in the same manner as 40 such budget was originally adopted, and (B) not later than one hundred 41 fifty days after the effective date of this section, adjust the tax levy and 42 the amount of any remaining installments of such taxes. If such town 43 has levied a tax that was due and payable in a single installment for the 44 fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, such town may mail or hand deliver to 45 persons liable therefor a supplemental rate bill for any additional tax 46 levy resulting pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. 47 Sec. 2. Subdivision (83) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 48 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 3 of 17 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 49 passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 50 2024): 51 (83) (A) (i) [A] That portion of a dwelling, including a condominium, 52 as defined in section 47-68a, [and] a unit in a common interest 53 community, as defined in section 47-202, [that is (I) owned by] and a 54 mobile manufactured home, as defined in section 12-63a, and the lot 55 upon which such dwelling sits, not to exceed two acres thereof, that (I) 56 belongs to, or is held in trust for, any resident of this state who has 57 served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or 58 Space Force of the United States and has been determined by the United 59 States Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and totally 60 disabled based on a service-connected [permanent and total] disability 61 rating [as determined by the United States Department of Veterans 62 Affairs] of one hundred per cent, and (II) is occupied by such resident 63 as the resident's primary residence, or (ii) lacking such residence, one 64 motor vehicle [owned by] that belongs to, or is held in trust for, such 65 resident and is garaged in this state. As used in this subdivision, 66 "dwelling" does not include any portion of the unit or structure used by 67 such resident for commercial purposes or from which such resident 68 derives any rental income. 69 (B) If such resident lacks such [dwelling or motor vehicle] property 70 in such resident's name, [the dwelling or motor vehicle, as applicable,] 71 so much of the property belonging to, or held in trust for, such resident's 72 spouse, who is domiciled with such resident, shall be so exempt. When 73 any resident entitled to an exemption under the provisions of this 74 subdivision has died, the [dwelling] real property or motor vehicle, as 75 applicable, described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision belonging 76 to, or held in trust for, such deceased resident's surviving spouse, while 77 such spouse remains a widow or widower, or belonging to or held in 78 trust for such deceased resident's minor children during their minority, 79 or both, while they are residents of this state, shall be so exempt as that 80 to which such resident was or would have been entitled at the time of 81 such resident's death. 82 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 4 of 17 (C) No individual entitled to the exemption under this subdivision 83 and under one or more of subdivisions (19), (22), (23), (25) and (26) of 84 this section shall receive more than one exemption. 85 (D) (i) No individual shall receive any exemption to which such 86 individual is entitled under this subdivision until such individual has 87 complied with section 12-95, as amended by this act, and has submitted 88 proof of such individual's [disability rating, as determined] 89 determination by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, to 90 the assessor of the town in which the exemption is sought. If there is no 91 change to an individual's [disability rating] determination, such proof 92 shall not be required for any assessment year following that for which 93 the exemption under this subdivision is granted initially. If the United 94 States Department of Veterans Affairs modifies an individual's 95 [disability rating] determination to other than permanently and totally 96 disabled based on a service-connected [permanent and total] disability 97 rating of one hundred per cent, such modification shall be deemed a 98 waiver of the right to the exemption under this subdivision. Any such 99 individual whose [disability rating] determination was modified to 100 other than permanently and totally disabled based on a service-101 connected [permanent and total] disability rating of one hundred per 102 cent may seek the exemption under subdivision (20) of this section. 103 (ii) Any individual who has been unable to submit evidence of 104 [disability rating] such determination by the United States Department 105 of Veterans Affairs in the manner required by this subdivision, or who 106 has failed to submit such evidence as provided in section 12-95, as 107 amended by this act, may, when such individual obtains such evidence, 108 make application to the tax collector not later than one year after such 109 individual obtains such proof or not later than one year after the 110 expiration of the time limited in section 12-95, as amended by this act, 111 as the case may be, for abatement in case the tax has not been paid, or 112 for refund in case the whole tax or part of the tax has been paid. Such 113 abatement or refund may be granted retroactively to include the 114 assessment day next succeeding the date as of which such individual 115 was entitled to such [disability rating as determined] determination by 116 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 5 of 17 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, but in no case shall 117 any abatement or refund be made for a period greater than three years. 118 (iii) The tax collector shall, after examination of such application, refer 119 the same, with the tax collector's recommendations thereon, to the board 120 of selectmen of a town or to the corresponding authority of any other 121 municipality, and shall certify to the amount of abatement or refund to 122 which the applicant is entitled. Upon receipt of such application and 123 certification, the selectmen or other duly constituted authority shall, in 124 case the tax has not been paid, issue a certificate of abatement or, in case 125 the whole tax or part of the tax has been paid, draw an order upon the 126 treasurer in favor of such applicant for such amount, without interest. 127 Any action so taken by such selectmen or other authority shall be a 128 matter of record and the tax collector shall be notified in writing of such 129 action. 130 Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) Any municipality, upon 131 approval by its legislative body, may provide that the surviving spouse 132 of any resident of this state who (1) had served in the Army, Navy, 133 Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or Space Force of the United 134 States, (2) had been determined by the United States Department of 135 Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability rating, and (3) 136 died prior to October 1, 2024, shall, while such spouse remains a widow 137 or widower, be entitled to an exemption from property tax on (A) that 138 portion of a dwelling, including a condominium, as defined in section 139 47-68a of the general statutes, a unit in a common interest community, 140 as defined in section 47-202 of the general statutes, and a mobile 141 manufactured home, as defined in section 12-63a of the general statutes, 142 and the lot upon which such dwelling sits, not to exceed two acres 143 thereof, that (i) belongs to, or is held in trust for, such surviving spouse, 144 and (ii) is occupied by such surviving spouse as the surviving spouse's 145 primary residence, or (B) lacking such residence, one motor vehicle that 146 belongs to, or is held in trust for, such surviving spouse and is garaged 147 in this state. As used in this subsection, "dwelling" does not include any 148 portion of the unit or structure used by such surviving spouse for 149 commercial purposes or from which such surviving spouse derives any 150 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 6 of 17 rental income. 151 (b) (1) No surviving spouse shall receive the exemption to which such 152 surviving spouse is entitled under this section until such surviving 153 spouse has complied with section 12-95 of the general statutes, as 154 amended by this act, and has submitted proof to the assessor of the town 155 in which the exemption is sought that the surviving spouse's deceased 156 veteran was determined by the United States Department of Veterans 157 Affairs to have a service-connected disability rating. 158 (2) Any surviving spouse who has been unable to submit evidence of 159 such determination by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 160 in the manner required by this subsection, or who has failed to submit 161 such evidence as provided in section 12-95 of the general statutes, as 162 amended by this act, may, when such surviving spouse obtains such 163 evidence, make application to the tax collector not later than one year 164 after such surviving spouse obtains such proof or not later than one year 165 after the expiration of the time limited in section 12-95 of the general 166 statutes, as amended by this act, as the case may be, for abatement in 167 case the tax has not been paid, or for refund in case the whole tax or part 168 of the tax has been paid. Such abatement or refund may be granted 169 retroactively to include the assessment day next succeeding the date as 170 of which such surviving spouse was entitled to such determination by 171 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, but in no case shall 172 any abatement or refund be made for a period greater than three years. 173 (3) The tax collector shall, after examination of such application, refer 174 the same, with the tax collector's recommendations thereon, to the board 175 of selectmen of a town or to the corresponding authority of any other 176 municipality, and shall certify to the amount of abatement or refund to 177 which the applicant is entitled. Upon receipt of such application and 178 certification, the selectmen or other duly constituted authority shall, in 179 case the tax has not been paid, issue a certificate of abatement or, in case 180 the whole tax or part of the tax has been paid, draw an order upon the 181 treasurer in favor of such applicant for such amount, without interest. 182 Any action so taken by such selectmen or other authority shall be a 183 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 7 of 17 matter of record and the tax collector shall be notified in writing of such 184 action. 185 Sec. 4. Subdivision (20) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 186 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 187 passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 188 2024): 189 (20) (A) Subject to the provisions hereinafter stated, property not 190 exceeding three thousand five hundred dollars in amount shall be 191 exempt from taxation, which property belongs to, or is held in trust for, 192 any resident of this state who has served, or is serving, in the Army, 193 Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or Space Force of the 194 United States and (i) has a disability rating as determined by the United 195 States Department of Veterans Affairs amounting to ten per cent or 196 more of total disability, other than a determination of being 197 permanently and totally disabled based on a service-connected 198 [permanent and total] disability rating of one hundred per cent, 199 provided such exemption shall be two thousand dollars in any case in 200 which such rating is between ten per cent and twenty-five per cent; two 201 thousand five hundred dollars in any case in which such rating is more 202 than twenty-five per cent but not more than fifty per cent; three 203 thousand dollars in any case in which such rating is more than fifty per 204 cent but not more than seventy-five per cent; and three thousand five 205 hundred dollars in any case in which such resident has attained sixty-206 five years of age or such rating is more than seventy-five per cent; or (ii) 207 is receiving a pension, annuity or compensation from the United States 208 because of the loss in service of a leg or arm or that which is considered 209 by the rules of the United States Pension Office or the Bureau of War 210 Risk Insurance the equivalent of such loss. 211 (B) If such veteran lacks such amount of property in such veteran's 212 name, so much of the property belonging to, or held in trust for, such 213 veteran's spouse, who is domiciled with such veteran, as is necessary to 214 equal such amount shall also be so exempt. When any veteran entitled 215 to an exemption under the provisions of this subdivision has died, 216 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 8 of 17 property belonging to, or held in trust for, such deceased veteran's 217 surviving spouse, while such spouse remains a widow or widower, or 218 belonging to or held in trust for such deceased veteran's minor children 219 during their minority, or both, while they are residents of this state, shall 220 be exempt in the same aggregate amount as that to which the disabled 221 veteran was or would have been entitled at the time of such veteran's 222 death. 223 (C) No individual entitled to the exemption under this subdivision 224 and under one or more of subdivisions (19), (22), (23), (25) and (26) of 225 this section shall receive more than one exemption. 226 (D) (i) No individual shall receive any exemption to which such 227 individual is entitled under this subdivision until such individual has 228 complied with section 12-95, as amended by this act, and has submitted 229 proof of such individual's disability rating, as determined by the United 230 States Department of Veterans Affairs, to the assessor of the town in 231 which the exemption is sought. If there is no change to an individual's 232 disability rating, such proof shall not be required for any assessment 233 year following that for which the exemption under this subdivision is 234 granted initially. If the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 235 modifies a veteran's disability rating, such modification shall be deemed 236 a waiver of the right to the exemption under this subdivision until proof 237 of disability rating is submitted to the assessor and the right to such 238 exemption is established as required initially, except that if such 239 disability rating is modified to a determination that such veteran is 240 permanently and totally disabled based on a service-connected 241 [permanent and total] disability rating of one hundred per cent, such 242 veteran may seek the exemption under subdivision (83) of this section. 243 (ii) Any individual who has been unable to submit evidence of 244 disability rating in the manner required by this subdivision, or who has 245 failed to submit such evidence as provided in section 12-95, as amended 246 by this act, may, when such individual obtains such evidence, make 247 application to the tax collector not later than one year after such 248 individual obtains such proof or not later than one year after the 249 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 9 of 17 expiration of the time limited in section 12-95, as amended by this act, 250 as the case may be, for abatement in case the tax has not been paid, or 251 for refund in case the whole tax has been paid, of such part or the whole 252 of such tax as represents the service exemption. Such abatement or 253 refund may be granted retroactively to include the assessment day next 254 succeeding the date as of which such person was entitled to such 255 disability rating as determined by the United States Department of 256 Veterans Affairs, but in no case shall any abatement or refund be made 257 for a period greater than three years. 258 (iii) The tax collector shall, after examination of such application, refer 259 the same, with the tax collector's recommendations thereon, to the board 260 of selectmen of a town or to the corresponding authority of any other 261 municipality, and shall certify to the amount of abatement or refund to 262 which the applicant is entitled. Upon receipt of such application and 263 certification, the selectmen or other duly constituted authority shall, in 264 case the tax has not been paid, issue a certificate of abatement or, in case 265 the whole tax has been paid, draw an order upon the treasurer in favor 266 of such applicant for the amount, without interest, that represents the 267 service exemption. Any action so taken by such selectmen or other 268 authority shall be a matter of record and the tax collector shall be 269 notified in writing of such action; 270 Sec. 5. Section 12-93 of the general statutes is repealed and the 271 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage and 272 applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024): 273 Any person who claims an exemption from taxation under the 274 provisions of section 12-81, as amended by this act, or 12-82 by reason 275 of service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or 276 Space Force of the United States shall give notice to the town clerk of the 277 town in which he resides that he is entitled to such exemption. Any 278 person who has performed such service may establish his right to such 279 exemption by exhibiting to the town clerk an honorable discharge, or a 280 certified copy thereof, from such service or, in the absence of such 281 discharge or copy, by appearing before the assessors for an examination 282 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 10 of 17 under oath, supported by two affidavits of disinterested persons, 283 showing that the claimant is a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, or is 284 serving or, if he is unable to appear by reason of such service, he may 285 establish such right, until such time as he appears personally and 286 exhibits his discharge or copy, by forwarding to the town clerk annually 287 a written statement, signed by the commanding officer of his unit, ship 288 or station or by some other appropriate officer, or where such claimant 289 is currently serving in an active theater of war or hostilities, by the 290 presentation of a notarized statement of a parent, guardian, spouse or 291 legal representative of such claimant, stating that he is personally 292 serving and is unable to appear in person by reason of such service, 293 which statement shall be received before the assessment day of the town 294 wherein the exemption is claimed. In the case of any person claiming 295 exemption under subdivision (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this 296 act, such person shall present to the assessors all documentation 297 necessary to demonstrate that the claimant has been determined by the 298 United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and 299 totally disabled based on a service-connected disability rating of one 300 hundred per cent, and shall attest that such person has not filed for, and 301 will not file for, the exemption under said subdivision in another town. 302 The assessors shall report to the town clerk all claims so established. 303 Any person claiming exemption by reason of the service of a relative as 304 a soldier, sailor, marine or member of the Coast Guard, Air Force or 305 Space Force may establish his right thereto by at least two affidavits of 306 disinterested persons showing the service of such relative, his honorable 307 discharge or death in service, and the relationship of the claimant to 308 him; and the assessors may further require such person to be examined 309 by them under oath concerning such facts. The town clerk of the town 310 where the honorable discharge or certified copy thereof and each 311 affidavit is originally presented for record shall record such discharge 312 or certified copy or affidavits thereof in full and shall list the names of 313 such claimants and such service shall be performed by the town clerk 314 without remuneration therefor. Thereafter if any person entitled to such 315 exemption changes his legal residence, the town clerk in the town of 316 former residence and in which such honorable discharge or certified 317 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 11 of 17 copy thereof or any such affidavit in respect to such person was 318 originally presented for record shall, upon request and payment of a fee 319 by such person to said town of former residence in an amount 320 determined by the town treasurer as necessary to cover the cost of such 321 procedure, prepare and mail to the town in which such person resides, 322 a copy of the record of such discharge or certified copy thereof or 323 affidavits, or he may establish his right to such exemption in the town 324 in which he resides by exhibiting to the town clerk thereof the original 325 discharge or a certified copy thereof or such affidavits. Said clerk shall 326 take therefrom sufficient data to satisfy the exemption requirements of 327 the general statutes and shall record the same and shall note the town 328 where the original complete recording of discharge papers was made. 329 No board of assessors or board of assessment appeals or other official 330 shall allow any such claim for exemption unless evidence as herein 331 specified has been filed in the office of the town clerk, provided, if any 332 claim for exemption has been allowed by any board of assessors or 333 board of assessment appeals prior to July 1, 1923, the provisions of this 334 section shall not apply to such claim. Each claim granted prior to July 1, 335 1923, shall be recorded with those presented subsequent thereto, and a 336 list of such names, alphabetically arranged, shall be furnished the 337 assessors by the town clerk. 338 Sec. 6. Section 12-94 of the general statutes is repealed and the 339 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage and 340 applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024): 341 The exemptions granted in sections 12-81, as amended by this act, and 342 12-82 to soldiers, sailors, marines and members of the Coast Guard, Air 343 Force and Space Force, and their spouses, widows, widowers, fathers 344 and mothers, and to blind or totally disabled persons and their spouses 345 shall first be made in the town in which the person entitled thereto 346 resides, and any person asking such exemption in any other town shall 347 annually make oath before, or forward his or her affidavit to, the 348 assessors of such town, deposing that such exemptions, except the 349 exemption provided in subdivision (55) of section 12-81, if allowed, will 350 not, together with any other exemptions granted under sections 12-81, 351 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 12 of 17 as amended by this act, and 12-82, exceed the amount of exemption 352 thereby allowed to such person. Such affidavit shall be filed with the 353 assessors within the period the assessors have to complete their duties 354 in the town where the exemption is claimed. The assessors of each town 355 shall annually make a certified list of all persons who are found to be 356 entitled to exemption under the provisions of said sections, which list 357 shall be filed in the town clerk's office, and shall be prima facie evidence 358 that the persons whose names appear thereon and who are not required 359 by law to give annual proof are entitled to such exemption as long as 360 they continue to reside in such town; but such assessors may, at any 361 time, require any such person to appear before them for the purpose of 362 furnishing [additional] evidence that demonstrates such person's 363 entitlement to such exemption, provided [,] (1) any person who by 364 reason of such person's disability is unable to so appear may furnish 365 such assessors a statement from such person's attending physician, 366 physician assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse certifying 367 that such person is totally disabled and is unable to make a personal 368 appearance and such other evidence of total disability as such assessors 369 may deem appropriate, and (2) any person claiming exemption under 370 subdivision (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this act, may furnish 371 documentation from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs 372 certifying that such person is permanently and totally disabled based on 373 a service-connected disability rating of one hundred per cent and is 374 unable to make a personal appearance. 375 Sec. 7. Section 12-95 of the general statutes is repealed and the 376 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage and 377 applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024): 378 No individual shall receive any exemption to which such individual 379 is entitled by any one of subdivisions (19), (20), (22), (23), (25), (26), (28) 380 and (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this act, or section 12-82 until 381 such individual has proved such individual's right to such exemption in 382 accordance with the provisions of sections 12-93, as amended by this act, 383 and 12-94, as amended by this act, together with such further proof as is 384 necessary under the provisions of any of said sections, including any 385 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 13 of 17 modification by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs of (1) 386 a veteran's disability rating as described in subdivision (20) of section 387 12-81, as amended by this act, or (2) a resident's determination as 388 permanently and totally disabled based on a one hundred per cent 389 disability rating as described in subdivision (83) of section 12-81, as 390 amended by this act. Exemptions so proved by residents shall take effect 391 on the next succeeding assessment day, provided individuals entitled to 392 an exemption under the provisions of subdivision (20) or (83) of section 393 12-81, as amended by this act, may prove such right at any time before 394 the expiration of the time limited by law for the board of assessment 395 appeals of the town wherein the exemption is claimed to complete its 396 duties and such exemption shall take effect on the assessment day next 397 preceding the date of the proof thereof. For purposes of any tax payable 398 in accordance with the provisions of section 12-71b, any such exemption 399 referred to in this section shall take effect on the first day of January next 400 following the date on which the right to such exemption has been 401 proved. 402 Sec. 8. Section 12-93a of the general statutes is repealed and the 403 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage and 404 applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024): 405 (a) Any person entitled to an exemption from property tax in 406 accordance with any provision of subdivisions (19) to (26), inclusive, 407 and (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this act, who is the owner of a 408 residential dwelling on leased land, including any such person who is a 409 sublessee under terms of the lease, shall be entitled to claim such 410 exemption in respect to the assessment of the dwelling for purposes of 411 the property tax, provided (1) the dwelling is such person's principal 412 place of residence, (2) such lease or sublease requires that such person 413 as the lessee or sublessee, whichever is applicable, pay all property taxes 414 related to the dwelling and (3) such lease or sublease is recorded in the 415 land records of the town. 416 (b) Any person entitled to an exemption from property tax in 417 accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (19) to (26), inclusive, 418 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 14 of 17 and (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this act, shall be entitled to 419 claim such exemption with respect to the assessment of a motor vehicle 420 that is leased by such person. Notwithstanding the provisions of this 421 chapter, any person claiming the exemption under this section for a 422 leased motor vehicle shall be entitled to a refund of tax paid with respect 423 to such vehicle whether such tax was paid by the lessee or by the lessor 424 pursuant to the terms of the lease. Such refund shall equal the amount 425 of such person's exemption multiplied by the applicable mill rate. Any 426 such person claiming the exemption for a leased vehicle under this 427 subdivision for any assessment year shall, not later than the thirty-first 428 day of December next following the assessment year during which the 429 tax for such leased vehicle has been paid, file with the assessor or board 430 of assessors, in the town in which such motor vehicle tax has been paid, 431 written application claiming such exemption on a form approved for 432 such purpose by such assessor or board. Upon approving such person's 433 exemption claim, the assessor shall certify the amount of refund to 434 which the applicant is entitled and shall notify the tax collector of such 435 amount. The tax collector shall refer such certification to the board of 436 selectmen in a town or to the corresponding authority in any other 437 municipality. Upon receipt of such certification, the selectmen or such 438 other authority shall draw an order on the Treasurer in favor of such 439 person for the amount of refund so certified. Failure to file such 440 application as prescribed in this subsection with respect to any 441 assessment year shall constitute a waiver of the right to such exemption 442 for such assessment year. 443 Sec. 9. Section 12-81cc of the general statutes is repealed and the 444 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage and 445 applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024): 446 Any person who has established his or her entitlement to a property 447 tax exemption under subdivision (19), (20), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (28), 448 [or] (53) or (83) of section 12-81, as amended by this act, or section 12-449 81g for a particular assessment year shall be issued a certificate as to 450 such entitlement by the tax assessor of the relevant municipality. Such 451 person shall be entitled to such exemption in any municipality in this 452 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 15 of 17 state for such assessment year provided a copy of such certificate is 453 provided to the tax assessor of any municipality in which such 454 exemption is claimed and further provided such person would 455 otherwise have been eligible for such exemption in such municipality if 456 he or she had filed for such exemption as provided under the general 457 statutes. 458 Sec. 10. Subdivision (22) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 459 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 460 1, 2025, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 461 2025): 462 (22) Subject to the provisions of sections 12-89, 12-90 and 12-95, as 463 amended by this act, (A) property to the amount of one thousand dollars 464 belonging to, or held in trust for, any surviving spouse while such 465 person remains a widow or widower, or a minor child or both, residing 466 in this state, of one who has served in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, 467 Coast Guard, Air Force or Space Force of the United States, or any 468 citizen of the United States who served in the military or naval service 469 of a government allied or associated with the United States, as provided 470 by subdivision (19) of this section, and who has died either during his 471 or her term of service, except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this 472 subdivision, or after becoming a veteran, as defined in section 27-103, 473 [provided such amount shall be three thousand dollars] and (B) if death 474 was due to service and occurred while on active duty (i) that portion of 475 a dwelling, including a condominium, as defined in section 47-68a, a 476 unit in a common interest community, as defined in section 47-202, and 477 a mobile manufactured home, as defined in section 12-63a, and the lot 478 upon which such dwelling sits, not to exceed two acres thereof, that (I) 479 belongs to, or is held in trust for, any such surviving spouse, and (II) is 480 occupied by such surviving spouse as the surviving spouse's primary 481 residence, or (ii) lacking such residence, one motor vehicle that belongs 482 to, or is held in trust for, such surviving spouse and is garaged in this 483 state. As used in this subparagraph, "dwelling" does not include any 484 portion of the unit or structure used by such surviving spouse for 485 commercial purposes or from which such surviving spouse derives any 486 Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 16 of 17 rental income; 487 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 from passage New section Sec. 2 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-81(83) Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 New section Sec. 4 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-81(20) Sec. 5 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-93 Sec. 6 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-94 Sec. 7 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-95 Sec. 8 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-93a Sec. 9 from passage and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2024 12-81cc Sec. 10 October 1, 2025, and applicable to assessment years commencing on or after October 1, 2025 12-81(22) Substitute Bill No. 1276 LCO 17 of 17 Statement of Legislative Commissioners: In Section 1(4), "in accordance with said subdivisions" was added for clarity; and in Section 1(6), the first sentence was rewritten for consistency with standard drafting conventions. VA Joint Favorable Subst.