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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1.  36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶D-4  is enacted to read:
 
D-4.  For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2021, the estates as calculated under this paragraph of an individual who is a disabled veteran who is not eligible for an exemption under paragraph C or C-1 because of age or service requirements or an eligible survivor of such a disabled veteran.
 
(1) For the purposes of this paragraph, "disabled veteran" means a permanent resident of this State who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as 30% or greater. For purposes of this paragraph, "eligible survivor" means an unremarried widow or widower or minor child or parent of a deceased disabled veteran.
 
(2) An exemption calculated under this paragraph may be applied only to a homestead, as defined in section 681, subsection 2, of the person claiming the exemption.
 
(3) The exemption provided in this paragraph applies to the property of an eligible survivor, including property held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of that eligible survivor.
 
(4) An individual may not claim an exemption under both this paragraph and another paragraph of this subsection; however, an eligible individual may elect to receive an exemption under another paragraph of this subsection instead of the exemption under this paragraph.
 
(5) A disabled veteran is entitled to an exemption calculated under this paragraph as follows:
 
(a) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 30%, but less than 40%, the exemption is $1,500;
 
(b) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 40%, but less than 50%, the exemption is $2,000;
 
(c) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 50%, but less than 60%, the exemption is $2,500;
 
(d) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 60%, but less than 70%, the exemption is $3,000;
 
(e) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 70%, but less than 80%, the exemption is $3,500;
 
(f) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 80%, but less than 90%, the exemption is $4,000;
 
(g) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as at least 90%, but less than 100%, the exemption is $4,500; and
 
(h) For a veteran with a service-connected disability rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as 100%, the exemption is $6,000.
’
 
(6) A municipality granting exemptions under this paragraph is entitled to reimbursement from the State of 100% of the property tax revenue lost as a result of the exemptions in the manner provided under section 661.
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment changes the property tax exemption proposed in the bill from a homestead exemption to an exemption for the estates of veterans for property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2021. Like current exemptions for the estates of veterans, the exemption is also made available to an eligible survivor, who may be a widow or widower, a minor child or a parent of an eligible disabled veteran, following the death of the eligible disabled veteran. The calculation of the exemption is changed to provide a flat exemption amount that increases from $1,500 to $6,000 based on the percentage of the veteran's service-connected disability. The amendment also requires state reimbursement to municipalities and the Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund for 100% of the property tax revenue lost as a result of the exemptions.