LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Jon Bumstead on Wednesday reintroduced legislation to reform Michigan’s property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans by shifting the tax burden from local units of government to the state Department of Treasury.
“This issue has been very important to me, and I have worked hard over the years with veterans and other important players to ensure we have the right legislation to safeguard this vital tax relief for our disabled veterans while also providing municipalities needed financial relief,” said Bumstead, R-North Muskegon.
Senate Bills 95 and 96 would maintain property tax relief for 100% disabled veterans and widowed spouses but would transform the benefit from a property tax exemption to an income tax credit to ease the burden on local governments. The process for eligible veterans to claim their credit would remain the same, while cities, villages, townships, and counties would get much-needed financial relief from the state.
The bills mirror SB 783 of 2021 and SB 1084 of 2022, which were approved by both the Senate and House but not sent to the governor’s desk before the 101st Legislature adjourned in December.
“I am hopeful these bills will once again earn the support of my legislative colleagues and of the governor in order to help our local units of government continue to provide property tax relief for our veterans,” Bumstead said. “We found a wide range of bipartisan support for this effort during the previous legislative session. I look forward to finally pushing these bills across the finish line this new term.”
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