Assemblyman Alex Sauickie announced on Mar. 13 the introduction of legislation aimed at providing property tax relief to honorably discharged veterans with service-connected disabilities rated below 100% by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
The proposed bill seeks to address what Sauickie described as an inequity in current state law, which only grants a full property tax exemption to veterans rated 100% disabled. Under the new legislation, eligible veterans would receive an annual property tax deduction of up to $5,000. If a veteran’s annual property tax bill is less than $5,000, the entire amount owed would be canceled.
“This legislation is about fairness and keeping our promise to every disabled veteran who served our country,” said Sauickie. “New Jersey has done a good job supporting those veterans deemed 100% disabled, but the reality is that thousands of veterans with significant service-connected disabilities receive no property tax relief at all. That needs to change.”
Sauickie said that many veterans with disabilities below the 100% threshold face challenges maintaining steady employment due to their conditions. “For some veterans, even with a disability rating below 100%, holding steady employment is simply not realistic,” Sauickie said. “At a time when affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing New Jersey families, providing up to $5,000 in property tax relief could mean the difference between staying in their homes or falling behind.”
He also referenced Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s recent budget message as highlighting the need for direct assistance for residents coping with high costs across New Jersey. “Given what we just heard in the governor’s budget message, now more than ever we must prioritize direct, tangible relief,” Sauickie added. “Our disabled veterans deserve more than words of appreciation. They deserve action that helps them live with dignity.”
To ensure local taxpayers are not affected by this policy change, the bill requires that municipalities be reimbursed by the state treasurer for 102% of deductions granted under this program.
Sauickie reaffirmed his commitment: “This is a fair and responsible way to ensure every disabled veteran receives some level of property tax relief,” he said. “Those who fought for our country should never be left behind.”
John DiMaio has been involved with public service roles such as serving on the Warren County Board of Freeholders from 2000 to 2009 according to the official legislative roster. DiMaio represents District 23, which includes areas like Hackettstown according to the official legislative roster. He held positions including Appropriations Officer from 2012 to 2017 and Budget Officer from 2018 to 2019 in the General Assembly as per the official legislative roster. DiMaio has worked as a legislator as noted in the official legislative roster. He joined the General Assembly in 2009 and became Minority Leader starting in 2022 according to the official legislative roster. DiMaio was also associated with Hackettstown as mayor from 1991 to 1999 according to the official legislative roster.
