Senate Advances Veteran Benefits Legislation in Celebration of Veterans Hall of Fame Day

The New York State Senate today passed legislation establishing a career-assistance program at SUNY and CUNY colleges, property tax exemptions for qualified veterans, and adds to available affordable housing waiting lists any qualified veterans or their surviving spouses. To date, the Senate has inducted more than 600 servicemembers to the annual New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Included in the 2022-23 State Budget, the Senate Majority “secured $10.7 million for human services and veterans community services organizations, $250,000 for the Veterans Mental Health Training Initiative, and extended the hire-a-vet tax credit for three years.” Read the Senate Majority Conference release. 

“Thanks to the sacrifices millions have made for our nation, New York is left a secure and prosperous haven for people worldwide. In honor of the veterans who protected this way of life, we must continue to support their smooth and dignified transition to the civilian side, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “I am proud of today’s package that strengthens our veteran programming and grants much-deserved tax relief to this community. I applaud the Chair of the Veterans Committee, Senator John Brooks, and the bill sponsors for advancing this important legislation and offer my deepest gratitude to those who have served our country.”

Bill sponsor and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs, Senator John Brooks, said, “We owe everything to our veterans and active-duty military personnel. Those who serve in the armed forces are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the liberties of their family, friends, and neighbors. They are the local heroes of our communities and we should strive to give back to them in every way we can. The transition from military to civilian life, especially when it comes to career planning, will often be an overwhelming process, and difficulties involved in translating military experience and skillsets for building an effective civilian resume can present many challenges. That is why I am proud to sponsor legislation which will help ease that transitional burden through well-deserved tax exemptions and establishing the Veteran Career Assistance Program. I am thankful to be in a position to give something back to those who give up so much for us on a daily basis.”

The legislation includes:

• Veteran Career Assistance Program: S1288A, sponsored by Senator John Brooks, will establish the veteran career assistance program within the SUNY and CUNY systems to provide veterans with assistance in resume writing and employment placement services.
• Combat Veteran Tax Exemption: S1378A, sponsored by Senator John Brooks, will create a real property tax exemption for property owned by certain persons performing active duty in a combat zone.
• Service Disability Tax Exemption: S2918A, sponsored by Senator Joseph Addabbo, will establish a real property tax exemption for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability.
• Veteran Cohabitation Exemption: S3402, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, will provide additional tax exemptions for two qualified veterans living in the same household.
• Bill to Disclose Veterans on Housing Lists: S8500, sponsored by Senator Jamaal Bailey, would require the publication of the number of veterans or surviving spouses of veterans on certain housing waiting lists.