Reps. Gonzales and Terhar Applaud Passage of Legislation Offering Property Tax Relief to Disabled Veterans

The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 85, legislation to enhance the homestead exemption for military veterans who are 100 percent disabled from a service-related disability.

House Bill 85, which was jointly sponsored by State Representatives Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) and Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati), increases the amount of the exemption from $25,000 to $50,000 for those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled. It also ensures that county veterans service commissions do not lose funding from the loss of property tax revenue and exempts disabled veterans from means testing.

“This bill is the product of months of work with the interested parties and creates a benefit that is competitive with our neighboring states while being fiscally responsible,” said Rep. Gonzales.

“Most other states have recognized that, for veterans who are 100 percent permanently disabled, owning a home may be the only tangible asset of value they have,” said Rep. Terhar. “I believe that if this tax credit can help a permanently disabled veteran stay in their home, it is not only important to the veteran but to the country.”

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 47 other states provide some property tax relief for veterans who are completely and permanently disabled. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are approximately 8,000 permanently disabled veterans in Ohio who meet the service-related disability requirement for tax exemption under the bill.

Suzette Price of the American Legion, Jerry Kerr of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Will Davis of Disabled American Veterans, and Franklin County Auditor Clarence Mingo testified in support of House Bill 85.

House Bill 85 will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.