Background

In 2017, the Legislature passed a provision that eliminated the application requirements for the disabled veteran's homestead exclusion, and imposed a requirement that the county veterans service officer certify the disability status of the veteran beneficiaries to the county assessor in order to determine eligibility for the homestead exclusion. However, the status cannot be certified unless the veteran consents to the release of private data. This bill authorizes the county veterans service officer and the county assessor to exchange private data in order for eligible veterans to receive the disabled veteran’s homestead exclusion property tax benefit.

Section 1 (197.603, subd. 2) amends the Veterans; Rewards, Privileges chapter of law to allow the county veterans service officer to disclose to the county assessor private data necessary to determine a client’s eligibility for the disabled veteran’s homestead exclusion.

Section 2 (273.1245, subd. 2) amends the Taxes; Listing, Assessment chapter of law, requiring the assessor to disclose data to the county veterans service officer for the purpose of determining a person’s eligibility for the disabled veteran’s homestead exclusion.

This bill is effective the day following final enactment.