HB 494 — TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR VETERANS

HOUSEAN BILLACT 494RELATING 57THTO LEGISLATURETAXATION; -STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Alan T.

Martinez 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION;

145 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

e t 17 "7-38-17.

CLAIMING EXEMPTIONS--REQUIREMENTS--PENALTIES.--EXEMPTIONS--REQUIREMENTS-- wPENALTIES.-- l n d 18 A.

Subject to the requirements of Subsection E of = = 19 a l this section, head-of-family exemptions, veteran exemptions, i a e r 20 disabled veteran exemptions or veterans' organization a t m m 21 exemptions claimed and allowed in a tax year need not be d r e 22 claimed for subsequent tax years if there is no change in c e s k 23 eligibility for the exemption nor any change in ownership of e a n b 24 the property against which the exemption was claimed.

Head-of-Head- uof-family, [ family, veteran and veterans' organization exemptions allowable .230909.1 under this subsection shall be applied automatically by county assessors in the subsequent tax years.

Once such exemptions are claimed and allowed for a tax year, they need not be claimed for subsequent tax years if there is no change HB 494 Page 1 in eligibility.

[Except as set forth in Subsection H of this section] An exemption required to be claimed under this section shall be applied for no later than thirty days after the mailing of the county assessor's notices of valuation pursuant to Section 7-38-20 NMSA 1978 in order for it to be allowed for that tax year.

e t 17 D.

A person who has had an exemption applied to a w l n d 18 tax year and subsequently becomes ineligible for the exemption = = 19 a l because of a change in the person's status or a change in the i a e r 20 ownership of the property against which the exemption was a t m m 21 applied shall notify the county assessor of the loss of d r e 22 eligibility for the exemption by the last day of February of c e s k 23 the tax year immediately following the year in which loss of e a n b 24 eligibility occurs.

u [ E.

Exemptions may be claimed by filing proof of .230909.1 - 2 - eligibility for the exemption with the county assessor.

Procedures for determining eligibility of claimants for any exemption shall be prescribed by regulation of the department, and these regulations shall include provisions for requiring the veterans' services department to issue certificates of eligibility for veteran and veterans' organization exemptions in a form and with the information HB 494 Page 2 required by the department.

The department shall consult and cooperate with the veterans' services department in the development, adoption e t 17 and promulgation of regulations under Subsection E of this w l n d 18 section.

The veterans' services department shall comply with = = 19 a l the promulgated regulations.

The veterans' services department i a e r 20 shall collect a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for the issuance of a t m m 21 a duplicate certificate of eligibility to a veteran or to a d r e 22 veterans' organization.

c e s k 23 G.

A person who violates the provisions of this e a n b 24 section by intentionally claiming and receiving the benefit of u [ an exemption to which the person is not entitled or who fails .230909.1 - 3 - to comply with the provisions of Subsection D of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).

A county assessor or the assessor's employee who knowingly permits a claimant for an exemption to receive the benefit of an exemption to which the claimant is not entitled is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and shall also be automatically HB 494 Page 3 removed from office or dismissed from employment upon conviction under this subsection.subsection." HB 494 Page 4 4 6 8 25

[H.

When a disabled veteran or the disabled veteran's unmarried surviving spouse provides proof of eligibility pursuant to Subsection E of this section, the disabled veteran or the disabled veteran's unmarried surviving spouse shall be allowed the exemption for the current tax year;

provided that the exemption shall not be allowed for property e t 17 tax due for previous tax years.]" w l n d 18 - 4 - = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .230909.1