Lorenz, House Pass Gold Star Widow's Bill

COLUMBUS— State Representative Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) legislation to expand homestead exemptions for the surviving spouses of uniformed service members killed in the line of duty has passed a House vote Wednesday. 

House Bill 378 or the Gold Star Widow’s Bill will expand a property tax exemption to Gold Star widows or widowers, someone that has lost their spouse will in the line of duty. 

“We ask a lot of our service members and first responders,” Lorenz said. “What we don’t see are the sacrifices the families of our military service members and first responders make behind the scenes. While nothing can ease the pain of losing a loved one, reducing the burden from a property tax standpoint will help to ensure the widow does not have to worry about this significant cost of home ownership.”

The Gold Star Widow’s Bill homestead exemption will exempt all taxes imposed on the surviving spouse’s homestead. This legislation also expands eligibility of the program from the standard household income threshold of $38,600 to $52,300 for surviving spouses.   

This exemption will be available to a surviving spouse dies, remarries or cohabitates with another unrelated person.

The legislation hasn’t been assigned a bill number or to a House committee.