Drew Wilson
Lake Placid Republican Sen. Denise Grimsley filed a bill Monday that would give the surviving spouses of disabled veterans a break on their property tax bills.
“A few years ago, we provided property tax relief to disabled military veterans,” said Grimsley. “But once they pass away, we’re seeing a number of their widows being reassessed the full tax. I think we owe it to these heroes to make sure their spouses continue to be taken care of and this is one way to make sure that happens.”
SB 1000 would extend to surviving spouses the same tax break passed in the 2013 Legislative Session which reduced ad valorem taxes for disabled veterans, regardless of what state they lived in when they served.
Prior to 2013, disabled veterans who were not Florida residents at the time of their service were ineligible for the tax break. But Florida voters in 2012 passed a ballot amendment with about 64 percent of the vote to extend the discount to all disabled veterans.
Florida disabled veterans who were honorably discharged can receive a $5,000 homestead exemption if their service-related disability is 10 percent or greater. Fully disabled veterans who were honorably discharged are exempt from all real estate taxes, less any portion of their property used for commercial purposes.
“This is a small but tangible way we can recognize the legacy of Florida’s disabled veterans by honoring their spouses,” said Grimsley, who is running in the GOP primary for Agriculture Commissioner in 2018.
Grimsley’s bill is the Senate companion to HB 527, which was filed by Tequesta Republican Rep. MaryLynn Magar earlier this month.
Magar’s bill has been referred to the Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, Government Accountability Committee, and the Ways & Means Committee.
