Santarsiero urges Senate passage of his bill to expedite tax relief to disabled vets

State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-31, on Thursday urged members of the state Senate to take up a vote on his disabled veterans' tax relief legislation when they return to session next week.

Santarsiero held a news conference at the site of the future Lower Makefield Veterans Monument calling on the Senate to pass his bill (H.B. 1838), which would defer real estate tax payments for veterans and military personnel who have become 100 percent permanently disabled as a result of their service to the United States, and send it to the governor.

The state House passed the legislation 201-0 in June.

"So many of our brave veterans live on meager fixed incomes, and after the great sacrifice they have provided to our country, it makes sense that we allow them to receive this benefit immediately upon application, rather than waiting through a lengthy application process," Santarsiero said.

"While a program already exists to exempt disabled veterans from paying property taxes, veterans often must wait as long as a year before learning whether they will be exempt," he added. "This bill would grant veterans the tax exemption immediately upon application, pending the outcome of the decision by the state Veterans Commission, and could mean the difference between veterans who live on limited means staying afloat or losing their homes."

State Sen. Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks/Montgomery, said he also supports the legislation.

"Our disabled veterans have made tremendous sacrifices in the name of freedom and democracy, and House Bill 1838 would remove some of the hurdles that disabled veterans face to receive property tax exemptions," McIlhinney said. "I applaud Rep. Santarsiero for taking the lead on this issue in the House, and I look forward to supporting this legislation in the Senate."