State Republican Lawmakers Themis Klarides and Sister Nicole Klarides-Ditria Support Veterans Legislation

DERBY, CT — During a hearing Tuesday before the Connecticut legislature's Veterans’ Affairs Committee, House Republican Leader Themis Klarides joined her sister and colleague State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria to testify in support of a bill they have introduced, which aims to provide tax relief for the state’s disabled veterans.

"There are countless stories of our brave men and women who return home after serving our country, and continue to suffer emotionally and financially," said Rep. Klarides-Ditria, who represents Derby, Seymour and Beacon Falls. "For many of our veterans the cost-of-living is still extremely difficult to meet, even with the current exemption, due to the financial challenges in our state. We should be making every effort we can to provide relief to our veterans who have served this country, and this bill will make this state more affordable for veterans living on fixed incomes."

The proposed bill, H.B. 7180, grants municipalities the ability to provide a freeze on property taxes for disabled veterans that meet the following qualifications:

• Must be veteran who has been honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in the armed forces with a service connected disability rated by the U.S. Dept. of Vets Affairs; or be the spouse/surviving spouse of any such veteran.
• The veteran must own be the property owner and be a Connecticut state resident for at least one year.
• A veterans taxable and nontaxable income must not exceed $35,200 if unmarried or $42,900 if married or as adjusted annually. This would exclude Medicaid payments on his/her behalf.

Added House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, who represents Woodbridge, Orange and parts of Derby, "Our veterans served our country when they were called to duty, without hesitation; and now these brave men and women need our help. It should always be our top priority to give more local control to municipalities and to provide tax relief to individuals who need it the most and this bill accomplishes both of these things. I have heard from countless veterans in my district that are looking to move out of the state they truly love and have fought for, and passing a bill that gives those living on fixed incomes relief will help regain their confidence in our state."

The Klarides sisters introduced this legislation after hearing from several concerned disabled veterans who see their property taxes increase, but their incomes remained fixed.

Reps. Klarides and Klarides-Ditria are hopeful that their proposal will move forward in the legislative process. The committee has until next Tuesday, March 7, to move the proposal to the House Floor for debate.

Photo: CT House Republican Leader Themis Klarides, left, and State Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria. Photo credit: Contributed