Rep. Bob Marshall

The state constitution allows a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated as a 100% permanent disability to claim a property tax exemption for a portion of the actual value of the veteran's owner-occupied primary residence. The 100% permanent disability requirement can only be changed through a constitutional amendment. If, at the 2024 general election, the voters of the state approve a constitutional amendment to expand eligibility for the exemption by allowing a veteran who has individual unemployability status, as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs, to claim the exemption, the act makes conforming statutory changes to reflect that expansion of the exemption. The act also requires a veteran who has individual unemployability status to be treated equivalently to a veteran who has 100% permanent disability when determining eligibility for any state veterans benefit. Finally, to comply with an existing statutory requirement that "people first language" be used in new or amended statutes that refer to persons with disabilities, the act also changes the existing terms "disabled veteran" and "disabled veterans" to "veteran with a disability" and "veterans with a disability". APPROVED by Governor April 28, 2023 EFFECTIVE January 1, 2025 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause. Section 11 of the act states that the act takes effect only if a constitutional amendment to section 3.5 (1.5) of article X of the state constitution that modifies the definition of "disabled veteran" by changing the term to "veteran with a disability" and including a veteran who has individual unemployability status as determined by the United States department of veterans affairs is approved by the people at the next general election and becomes law. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill requires a county sheriff in a county with a population of 25,000 or more to possess a bachelor's degree or higher in criminal justice or a related field. The bill requires candidates for the offices of county sheriff and district attorney to petition onto the ballot and prevents those candidates from being nominated as a candidate for a primary process election. Relatedly, the bill also prevents a ballot from listing the political affiliation of candidates for the offices of county sheriff and district attorney and excludes county sheriffs and district attorneys from party committees. Lastly, the The bill prohibits county sheriff's office employees from: participating in specified political activities. Soliciting money on behalf of a political campaign; Using their official position to make a public endorsement of a candidate for elected office, to reflect their personal political feelings as those of the county sheriff's department, or to exert pressure on anyone to influence that person's political views; Display political advertising or paraphernalia on the employee's body or automobile while on duty or in uniform; and Display political advertising on county land, buildings, or equipment. The bill includes a penalty for violating these provisions of up to one thousand dollars and potentially dismissal from the service of the county sheriff's office. (Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.) (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

The state constitution allows a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated as a 100% permanent disability to claim a property tax exemption for a portion of the actual value of the veteran's owner-occupied primary residence. The 100% permanent disability requirement can only be changed through a constitutional amendment. The concurrent resolution submits a constitutional amendment to the voters of the state at the 2024 general election that will, if approved, expand eligibility for the exemption by allowing a veteran who has individual unemployability status, as determined by the U.S. department of veterans affairs, to claim the exemption. In most cases, to have individual unemployability status, a veteran must be unable to keep a steady job because the veteran either has at least one service-connected disability rated at 60% or more disabling or has 2 or more service-connected disabilities with at least one disability rated at 40% or more disabling and a combined rating of 70% or more disabling. To conform to the existing public policy of the state that "people first language" be used in new or amended legislation that refers to persons with disabilities, the concurrent resolution also changes the existing defined term "disabled veteran" to "veteran with a disability". (Note: This summary applies to this concurrent resolution as adopted.)

Currently, in a county with a population of 70,000 or more, the board of county commissioners (board) may consist of 3 commissioners from 3 districts, with one commissioner elected from each district by voters of the whole county. Alternatively, the board may consist of 5 commissioners, the county may be divided into 3 or 5 districts, and the commissioners may be elected pursuant to one of 10 alternative methods. The bill eliminates this discretionary system and instead requires that all counties with a population of 70,000 or more have 5 commissioners, with at least 3 commissioners elected only by voters resident in the district from which each commissioner runs for election. The bill allows the counties to choose between 3 election alternatives: 3 commissioners resident in 3 districts elected by voters resident in those districts and 2 commissioners elected at large; 4 commissioners resident in 4 districts elected by voters resident in those district and one commissioner elected at large; or 5 commissioners resident in 5 districts elected only by voters resident in those districts. The bill makes conforming amendments to statutory provisions concerning commissioner districts and election petition statutes. The bill does not affect counties that have adopted home rule. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)