HOUSE BILL REPORT
SSB 5256
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Passed House:
March 5, 2008
Title: An act relating to excluding veterans benefits from the income calculation for the retired person property tax relief program.
Brief Description: Providing for the exclusion of veterans benefits from the income calculation for the retired person property tax relief program.
Sponsors: By Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Prentice, Roach, Fairley, Kastama, Eide, Hobbs, Fraser, Rockefeller, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Franklin, Kilmer, Honeyford and Keiser).
Brief History:
Finance: 2/22/08, 2/27/08 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 3/5/08, 96-0.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 9 members: Representatives Hunter, Chair; Hasegawa, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Condotta, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Conway, Ericks, McIntire, Roach and Santos.
Staff: Rick Peterson (786-7150).
Background:
Some senior citizens and persons retired due to disability are entitled to property tax relief on
their principal residences. To qualify, a person must be age 61 in the year of application, or
retired from employment because of a disability, or 100 percent disabled due to military
service; must own his or her principal residence; and must have a disposable income of less
than $35,000 a year. Persons meeting these criteria are entitled to partial property tax
exemptions and a property valuation freeze.
Disposable income is defined as the sum of federally defined adjusted gross income and the
following, if not included: capital gains; deductions for loss; depreciation; pensions and
annuities; military pay and benefits; veterans' benefits except attendant-care and medical-aid
payments; Social Security and federal railroad retirement benefits; dividends; and interest
income.
Some costs may be deducted from the disposable income total as follows: payments for the
care of either spouse received in the home; a nursing home, boarding home or adult family
home; payments for medicare insurance premiums; and payments for prescription drugs.
Summary of Bill:
Federal veterans benefits awarded for service-connected disability may be deducted from the
disposable income total when computing the retired person property tax reduction.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is the13th year for the Veterans Coalition to seek tax relief for the 100
percent disabled veteran. The federal government does not count this income for income tax
purposes but the state does. This needs to come off the state's calculation of income. This
bill will level the playing field. Disabled veterans have sacrificed their time and their bodies
for our country.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: John Lee, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Dennis Primoli, Veterans Legislative Coalition.