Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners.

Senator Archuleta's property tax exemption proposal for fully disabled veterans aims to reduce homelessness by eliminating property taxes on their primary residences from 2026 through 2035. The measure would exempt properties owned and occupied by veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities, including those who are blind in both eyes or have lost the use of two or more limbs. The exemption would also extend to surviving unmarried spouses who meet specific eligibility requirements.

To qualify, veterans must provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or their military branch confirming their disability rating. The exemption applies to various property ownership structures, including individual ownership, joint tenancy, and community property. Properties remain eligible when veterans or surviving spouses temporarily reside in care facilities, provided family members occupy the home.

The State Board of Equalization must collect and report annual data to the Legislature on the number of recipients and total assessed value exempted. While the bill creates new duties for county assessors, it explicitly prohibits state reimbursement to local agencies for lost property tax revenues. The exemption replaces, rather than supplements, existing veterans' property tax benefits and automatically expires on January 1, 2036.