A bill authored by State Senator John Jasinski (R-Faribault) to streamline the process by which disabled veterans get tax benefits they are qualified for cleared its first committee Thursday, January 17.

Senate File 58 allows a county veterans service officer to share veterans’ disability status information with county assessors in order to determine eligibility for the Disabled Veterans Homestead Market Value Exclusion. Previously, the legislature imposed a requirement that CVSOs must certify a veteran’s disability status to the county assessor in order to determine eligibility, but required veterans to consent to the release of their data. Senate File 58 removes that requirement, streamlining the eligibility process.

“Too many veterans are missing out on tax benefits that they deserve simply due to an onerous legal requirement,” said Sen. Jasinski. “I hope we are able to close this gap in 2019.”

Senate File 58 passed the Senate Veterans Committee on a voice vote and was sent to the Judiciary Committee, where it awaits a hearing.

Last year, a version of the bill made it all the way to Gov. Dayton’s desk but was caught up in a larger veto.