IL SB2559

Expands the homestead property tax exemption for veterans with disabilities to cover surviving spouses of veterans killed in the line of duty, effective for taxable years 2015 and thereafter.

Beginning with taxable year 2021, extends the exemption to surviving spouses of veterans who would have qualified for the exemption if they had survived, and to surviving spouses of veterans whose service-connected death qualifies them as current recipients of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

Surviving spouses certified as recipients of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation receive full property tax exemption under subsection (b-3), paragraph (3).

Surviving spouses may transfer the exemption to a new primary residence if they sell the property, provided they do not remarry and the exemption does not exceed the amount from the most recent ad valorem tax roll.

Allows counties to approve the exemption for 2020 without requiring a new application if the property qualified in 2019 and the county declared a local disaster related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.