NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2631
SPONSOR: Sayegh TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to granting an
additional tax exemption for two qualified veterans living in the same
household
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow for municipalities to offer an additional real property tax
exemption when two qualified veterans reside in the same household for
the alternative veterans'. exemptions.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 of section
458-a of the real property tax law, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter
899 of the laws of 1985 and paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 473 of
the laws of 2004 to include qualified veterans for real property tax
exemptions up to 7.5% of the assessed value of such property, provided,
however that such additional exemption shall not exceed $6,000 or the
product of $6,000 multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for
the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the
latest class ratio, whichever is less.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
JUSTIFICATION:
By enlisting as a member of the armed forces a person chooses to place
themselves in harm's way to protect our country and our freedoms. With
the United States' former involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, many
soldiers had been deployed abroad. When a soldier is deployed there is a
financial burden placed on the families they leave behind. This is a
debt that their families may endure for years to come. New York State
recognizes and rewards the soldiers who enlist and serve during a time
of war by granting them an Alternative Veterans real property tax
exemption. The Alternative Veterans Exemption is available. only for
residential property of veterans who served during wartime or received
an expeditionary medal.
However, if two qualified veterans reside in the same household the
exemption does not change or increase. This legislation will allow for
an increase of the Alternative Veterans exemption for a household with
two qualifying veterans. The. new language provides for an addition of
half of the current percentages allowed. Therefore, a household with two
veterans who served during wartime would receive an exemption up to
22.5% of the assessed value of the property and additional 15% if both
veterans served in a combat zone. Each county must still opt in to grant
this alternative exemption. This legislation will Properly recognize and
reward all veterans who have served their country and who own property
in New York State.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A4694-Held for Consideration in Real Property Taxation
2023-24: A74A-Reported referred to Ways and Means
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first January next succeeding the date
on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2631
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 21, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SAYEGH, TAGUE, LEMONDES, DURSO, HYNDMAN, JACKSON,
SLATER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Real Property
Taxation
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to granting an
additional tax exemption for two qualified veterans living in the same
household
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 of section 458-a of
2 the real property tax law, paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 899 of
3 the laws of 1985 and paragraph (b) as amended by chapter 473 of the laws
4 of 2004, are amended to read as follows:
5 (a) (i) Qualifying residential real property shall be exempt from
6 taxation to the extent of fifteen percent of the assessed value of such
7 property; provided, however, that such exemption shall not exceed twelve
8 thousand dollars or the product of twelve thousand dollars multiplied by
9 the latest state equalization rate for the assessing unit, or in the
10 case of a special assessing unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is
11 less.
12 (ii) In addition to the exemption provided by subparagraph (i) of this
13 paragraph, where more than one veteran, qualifying under this section,
14 lives in the same household, qualifying residential real property also
15 may be exempt from taxation to the extent of up to seven and one-half
16 percent of the assessed value of such property; provided, however, that
17 such additional exemption shall not exceed six thousand dollars or the
18 product of six thousand dollars multiplied by the latest state equaliza-
19 tion rate for the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing
20 unit, the latest class ratio, whichever is less, provided that the
21 governing body of a city, village, town, school district, fire district
22 or county, after a public hearing, adopts a local law, ordinance or
23 resolution providing therefore. The governing body of the applicable
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02708-01-5
A. 2631 2
1 city, village, town, school district, fire district or county shall
2 determine the percentage of exemption provided for in this subparagraph
3 within such local law, ordinance, or resolution, provided that such
4 exemption shall not exceed six thousand dollars or the product of six
5 thousand dollars multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for
6 the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the
7 latest class ratio, whichever is less.
8 (b) (i) In addition to the exemption provided by paragraph (a) of this
9 subdivision, where the veteran served in a combat theatre or combat zone
10 of operations, as documented by the award of a United States campaign
11 ribbon or service medal, or the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy
12 expeditionary medal, marine corps expeditionary medal, or global war on
13 terrorism expeditionary medal, qualifying residential real property also
14 shall be exempt from taxation to the extent of ten percent of the
15 assessed value of such property; provided, however, that such exemption
16 shall not exceed eight thousand dollars or the product of eight thousand
17 dollars multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assess-
18 ing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the class ratio,
19 whichever is less.
20 (ii) In addition to the exemption provided by paragraph (a) of this
21 subdivision and the exemption provided by subparagraph (i) of this para-
22 graph, where more than one veteran, qualifying under this paragraph,
23 lives in the same household, qualifying residential real property also
24 may be exempt from taxation to the extent of up to five percent of the
25 assessed value of such property; provided, however, that such additional
26 exemption shall not exceed four thousand dollars or the product of four
27 thousand dollars multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for
28 the assessing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the
29 latest class ratio, whichever is less provided that the governing body
30 of a city, village, town, school district, fire district or county,
31 after a public hearing, adopts a local law, ordinance or resolution
32 providing therefore. The governing body of the applicable city,
33 village, town, school district, fire district or county shall determine
34 the percentage of exemption provided for in this subparagraph within
35 such local law, ordinance, or resolution, provided that such exemption
36 shall not exceed four thousand dollars or the product of four thousand
37 dollars multiplied by the latest state equalization rate for the assess-
38 ing unit, or in the case of a special assessing unit, the latest class
39 ratio, whichever is less.
40 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
41 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
