The Arizona House has passed bill HB2672, which calls for a full exemption from property taxes for 100% disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. It was introduced by House Majority Leader Michael Carbone and had about a dozen cosponsors. The vote in the full House was a near-unanimous 55-2. Prior to that, it had cleared the Ways and Means Committee by a unanimous 8-0 vote.
Currently, disabled veterans receive some property tax relief, but with strict limits based on income and assessed values. HB2672 removes those restrictions and extends its provisions to surviving spouses as long as the property remains as their main residence and they do not remarry.
Two other bills, HB2406 and HCR2023, have been advancing through the House, but their provisions are not as comprehensive as those in HB2672 because they both keep some of the restrictions currently in effect and both require that the disabled veteran be a combat veteran to qualify.
“Our veterans risk everything to defend our freedoms, and for those with total service-connected disabilities, that sacrifice doesn’t end when they return home,” said Majority Leader Carbone. “This bill ensures that Arizona honors these heroes by eliminating property taxes on their homes, giving them the security and stability they deserve. The House Republican Majority is focused on reducing the tax burden on Arizonans, and HB2672 delivers real relief to those who have given so much for our nation.”
HB2672 has been transferred to the Senate, where it has been assigned to the Finance Committee. As of the time of this writing, it had not yet been scheduled for a committee hearing.