Veterans

Senate Bill 5420 aims to ensure veterans, uniformed service members, and military spouses have access to state benefits and employment opportunities in Washington. The bill expands the definition of "service member" to include those in the U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA commissioned corps, ensuring they receive similar benefits. It also allows firefighters to receive service credit for time spent in these expanded uniformed services for pension calculations. The legislation seeks to provide hiring preference for veterans and military spouses in public service employment within the state.

House Bill 1106 expands eligibility for property tax relief to more disabled military veterans in Washington state. It lowers the required combined service-connected disability rating from 80% to 40% or higher for veterans to qualify for property tax exemptions on their primary residence. This change allows a broader group of disabled veterans to receive a reduction in their annual property tax obligations, provided they meet other existing criteria related to residency, ownership, and income thresholds. The bill aims to recognize the sacrifices of veterans by making property tax relief more accessible.