For years, whether a 100% disabled veteran in New York got full relief from local property taxes depended on an accident of geography: some towns and school districts opted in to the exemption, plenty of others didn't. That patchwork ends this week. Chapter 77 of the Laws of 2026, signed by Governor Hochul in February, converts the full exemption from a local option into a statewide mandate, with the change taking effect for assessment rolls finalized after October 1, 2026.
What the law actually changes
New York first created an enhanced exemption for a subset of 100% service-connected disabled veterans under Chapter 672 of the Laws of 2025, but it left the decision to each town, city, and school district. Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, who sponsored the follow-up bill, pushed to close that gap. According to her office, the new law "removes the red tape" and requires every locality in the state to grant the full exemption to qualifying veterans, rather than leaving it to a local vote.
To qualify, a veteran must be certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as 100% service-connected disabled, including those covered under the Restoration of Honor Act, or be deemed individually unemployable by the VA. The exemption applies to a veteran's primary residence and the land necessary to it, covering general property taxes as well as special district charges, assessments, and special ad valorem levies. Importantly, receiving it doesn't reduce any other veteran benefits a homeowner already gets.
When it actually shows up on a tax bill
Because New York's assessment calendar varies by municipality, the mandate doesn't mean an instant refund. As the Town of Hurley's assessor's office explains, the exemption applies to assessment rolls finalized after October 1, 2026, which in practice means 2027-2028 school tax bills and 2028 town and county bills for localities with a standard March 1 taxable status date. Eligible veterans can start filing applications with their local town or city assessor beginning today, October 1, 2026, through March 1, 2027, so the sooner a qualifying veteran applies, the sooner the exemption locks in for the next cycle.
Worth checking even if you've been denied before
Veterans who were previously turned down because their town or school district hadn't opted in should take another look. The mandate removes that excuse entirely, and local assessors are now required to process qualifying applications regardless of past local policy. Veterans outside New York shouldn't assume this is a one-state story, either. Property tax relief, tuition waivers, and other state-level veteran benefits change constantly, and they're easy to miss if nobody's watching for them.
This is exactly the kind of benefit Operation WarriorFit tries to help veterans, service members, and first responders stay on top of. We track state-by-state veteran benefits, including New York's veteran benefits guide, and we cover free race entries for the same community through our race programs. If you're a veteran, active-duty service member, or first responder who hasn't looked into what you qualify for, in New York or anywhere else, check your eligibility here.