S 8958 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Exempts certain disabled veterans from real property taxation

This bill would provide a full real property tax exemption for the primary residence of disabled veterans who meet specific criteria. To qualify, veterans must have been discharged under honorable conditions, have a qualifying disability or LGBT status recognized under veterans' services law, and be rated as permanently and totally disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption also applies to veterans who are individually unemployable due to their disability and have received government pecuniary assistance for housing modifications. The law ensures the property's taxable value cannot go below zero and does not affect any existing tax exemptions veterans may already receive.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Mar 3, 2026

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What changed between versions

S8958 → S8958A · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a second sponsor, update the effective law reference, and significantly rewrite the tax exemption criteria to include specific conditions for disabled, LGBT, and unemployable veterans. The text also clarifies that the exemption cannot result in a negative tax value and adds a new provision regarding housing acquired with government pecuniary assistance.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single sponsor to two sponsors (Sen. Ashby and Sen. Grifo), and the legislative history was updated to reflect committee discharge and amendment.

ELIGIBILITY

The eligibility criteria were completely restructured to explicitly include three distinct groups: veterans with qualifying conditions, discharged LGBT veterans, and veterans rated individually unemployable, in addition to those with 100% disability ratings.

A new exemption clause was introduced for land and housing units acquired using pecuniary assistance from the U.S. government that were made necessary by the veteran's disability.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision was added stating that the taxable assessed value of a veteran's property cannot be reduced below zero, ensuring the exemption does not create a negative tax liability.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was updated to reference Chapter 77 of the laws of 2026 instead of Chapter 672 of the laws of 2025, and the sponsors were updated to include Sen. Grifo.

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Full legislative history

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Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 8958A

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors