HB 23-1052

House Bill 23-1052 proposes to expand property tax exemptions for veterans with disabilities in Colorado. Currently, only veterans with a 100% permanent disability can claim this exemption. The bill aims to include veterans who are considered unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. However, these changes will only take effect if voters approve a related constitutional amendment during the 2024 general election. If approved, the law would also ensure that veterans with individual unemployability status receive the same benefits as those with a 100% disability rating. The bill was signed by the governor but won't become effective until January 1, 2025, contingent on voter approval of the constitutional amendment.

Official Summary

The state constitution allows a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated as a 100% permanent disability to claim a property tax exemption for a portion of the actual value of the veteran's owner-occupied primary residence. The 100% permanent disability requirement can only be changed through a constitutional amendment. If, at the 2024 general election, the voters of the state approve a constitutional amendment to expand eligibility for the exemption by allowing a veteran who has individual unemployability status, as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs, to claim the exemption, the act makes conforming statutory changes to reflect that expansion of the exemption. The act also requires a veteran who has individual unemployability status to be treated equivalently to a veteran who has 100% permanent disability when determining eligibility for any state veterans benefit. Finally, to comply with an existing statutory requirement that "people first language" be used in new or amended statutes that refer to persons with disabilities, the act also changes the existing terms "disabled veteran" and "disabled veterans" to "veteran with a disability" and "veterans with a disability". APPROVED by Governor April 28, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. Section 11 of the act states that the act takes effect only if a constitutional amendment to section 3.5 (1.5) of article X of the state constitution that modifies the definition of "disabled veteran" by changing the term to "veteran with a disability" and including a veteran who has individual unemployability status as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs is approved by the people at the next general election and becomes law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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