A Tri-Cities lawmaker has prefiled two bills in the Washington Legislature to expand property tax relief for disabled vets and help communities secure more federal funds.
The bills come as legislators prepare to convene the 2025 legislative session on Monday, Jan. 13, in Olympia. The session will run 105 days.
“My commitment is to stand with our veterans and ensure they have the resources necessary to succeed,” Rep. Stephanie Barnard, R-Pasco, said of House Bill 1106 . “This bill can help deliver the meaningful support deserved by those who have given so much for our nation’s freedom and security.”
If passed, the law would gradually decrease the threshold disabled veterans need to meet to be eligible for property tax exemptions over three years.
Beginning in 2026, veterans with a combined service-connected evaluation rating of 60% or higher would become eligible. In 2027, that bar would be lowered to 40%, then to 20% in 2028.
The rating is a calculation used by the VA to determine disability compensation and other benefits based on the service’s impact on the body.