Minnesota Senate Bill SF1098

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/2/23
• Refer: 2/2/23

Caption

Market value property tax exclusion for veterans with a disability modification

Impact

The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to ensure that veterans with a total and permanent disability can exclude up to $300,000 of their property's market value, facilitating more advantageous property tax treatment. Furthermore, it offers a transfer of benefits to the surviving spouses of deceased veterans under specified conditions, ensuring that the economic benefits extend beyond the veteran’s lifetime, promoting financial stability for their families.

Summary

SF1098 proposes modifications to the current market value exclusion for property taxes for veterans with disabilities. The legislation aims to provide enhanced tax relief for veterans who have a service-connected disability rated at 70% or more, allowing a significant portion of their property's market value to be excluded from tax calculations. This bill not only extends these benefits to veterans but also to their primary family caregivers and surviving spouses under specific conditions, which is intended to ease the financial burden on these families.

Contention

While the bill is generally supported as a necessary measure to support veterans, there may be concerns regarding its fiscal implications for local governments that depend on property tax revenue. Some may argue that the increased exclusions could result in budgetary shortfalls, leading to further discussions on state funding mechanisms or tax equity considerations. Additionally, ensuring that the eligibility criteria for obtaining these exclusions are straightforward and accessible could be a point of contention during legislative debates.