The exemption provided in this paragraph is in lieu of any exemption under paragraph C to which the veteran may be eligible and applies to the property of that veteran, including property held in joint tenancy with that veteran's spouse or held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that veteran.

D. The estates up to the just value of $5,000 $10,000, having a taxable situs in the place of residence, of the unremarried widow or the minor child of any veteran who would be entitled to the exemption if living, or who is in receipt of a pension or compensation from the Federal Government as the widow or minor child of a veteran.

The estates up to the just value of $5,000 $10,000, having a taxable situs in the place of residence, of the mother of a deceased veteran who is 62 years of age or older and is an unremarried widow who is in receipt of a pension or compensation from the Federal Government based upon the service-connected death of her child.

The exemptions provided in this paragraph apply to the property of an unremarried widow, minor child or mother of a deceased veteran, including property held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that unremarried widow, minor child or mother of a deceased veteran.

Sec. 3. 36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶D-1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 462, §3, is further amended to read:

D-1. The estates up to the just value of $47,500, having a taxable situs in the place of residence, for specially adapted housing units, of veterans who served in the Armed Forces of the United States during any federally recognized war period, including the Korean Campaign, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War, and who are paraplegic veterans within the meaning of the Code, Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101, and who received a grant from the United States Government for any such housing, or of the unremarried widows of such veterans. A veteran of the Vietnam War must have served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred after February 27, 1961 and before May 8, 1975 in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period and after August 4, 1964 and before May 7, 1975 in all other cases, unless the veteran died in service or was

discharged for a service-connected disability after that date. "Vietnam War" means the period between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975 and the period beginning on February 28, 1961 and ending on May 7, 1978 in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. "Persian Gulf War" means service on active duty on or after August 7, 1990 and before or on the date that the United States Government recognizes as the end of that war period. The exemption provided in this paragraph applies to the property of the veteran including property held in joint tenancy with a spouse or held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that veteran.

Sec. 4. 36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶¶D-2 and D-3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 368, Pt. CCC, §4 and affected by §11, are further amended to read:

D-2. The estates up to the just value of $7,000 $10,000, having a taxable situs in the place of residence of the unremarried widow or the minor child of any veteran who would be entitled to an exemption under paragraph C-1, if living, or who is in receipt of a pension or compensation from the Federal Government as the widow or the minor child of a veteran, and who is the unremarried widow or minor child of a veteran who served during any federally recognized war period during or before World War I.

The exemption provided in this paragraph is in lieu of any exemption under paragraph D to which the person may be eligible and applies to the property of that person, including property held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that person.

D-3. The estates up to the just value of $7,000 $10,000, having a taxable situs in the place of residence of the mother of a deceased veteran who is 62 years of age or older and is an unremarried widow who is in receipt of a pension or compensation from the Federal Government based upon the service-connected death of her child and who is receiving the pension or compensation from the Federal Government based upon the service-connected death of her child during any federally recognized war period during or before World War I.

The exemption provided in this paragraph is in lieu of any exemption under paragraph D to which the person may be eligible and applies to the property of that person, including property held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that person.

Sec. 5. 36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶K, as amended by PL 1975, c. 550, §4, is repealed.

SUMMARY

This bill amends the law governing property tax exemptions for veterans by changing the amount to a fixed rate of $10,000 and to eliminate just value as a basis for arriving at the amount of the exemption. Under this bill, the estates of veterans will be exempt from property tax up to the value of $10,000.