Addabbo bill to provide property tax exemption for disabled veterans approved by Senate

The NYS Senate approved legislation (S.2028) sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., a member of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee, to establish a property tax exemption for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability.

“Often, Veterans who become disabled while serving cannot work, which leaves many struggling to provide for their families. My bill is just one way we can help to improve the quality of life for veterans disabled while protecting our country,” said Addabbo. “A tax exemption would offer financial relief for our community friends and neighbors who selflessly sacrificed their future while defending ours.”

Under Addabbo’s bill, military men and women with a 100 percent service-connected disability would qualify for a total property tax exemption. A 100% Rating is given to Disabled Veterans with extremely severe service-connected conditions that usually make the veteran entirely unable to work and mostly unable to care for themselves, including bathing and dressing.

In 2021, 8.3% of veterans with service-connected disabilities had a combined rating of 90%, while 16.9% had a combined rating of 100%. It is difficult to obtain a 100% disability rating with just one service-connected disability. Most veterans who receive a 100% rating have two or more disabling conditions.

The companion bill (A.2965), sponsored by Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato in the Assembly, is under review by the Real Property Taxation Committee.