November 11, 2026 New York, NY In a historic move timed with Veterans Day, the New York City Council is set to approve a transformative legislative package on Thursday aimed at lowering living costs and improving housing access for thousands of local service members across the five boroughs.

Headlining the three-bill package is a landmark tax relief measure that will completely eliminate property tax liability for New York City’s most severely disabled military veterans.

100% Property Tax Exemption for Permanently Disabled Veterans

Sponsored by Staten Island Republican Council Member Frank Morano, the marquee bill eliminates property taxes on primary residences for veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected injuries.

While New York City currently provides partial property tax discounts, this bill fully adopts state-authorized guidelines to wipe out remaining municipal property tax balances and exempt qualifying homes from specific local assessments.

• Impacted Households: Approximately 4,500 veteran families across New York City will qualify for total relief.

• City Cost: Estimated at less than $5 million annually in foregone municipal tax revenue.

• Effective Date: Takes effect immediately upon being signed into law.

Queens Navy Veteran Sharan White shared in written testimony:

“A 100% exemption would not make me rich. It would make my home stable. It would mean the city is not slowly taxing a seriously disabled veteran out of the home she is raising her children in.”

Full Breakdown of the NYC Veterans Legislative Package

Beyond property tax relief, the Council’s bipartisan package targets long-standing transparency gaps in city-supervised housing and guarantees permanent advocacy for marginalized veterans.

Housing Transparency & LGBTQ+ Discharge Upgrade Protections

The package addresses crucial administrative hurdles that have historically prevented former service members from accessing earned city benefits:

1. Mitchell-Lama Housing Oversight

Although veterans technically hold a statutory preference for Mitchell-Lama affordable housing, an investigation cited by Council Member Vernikov revealed that out of 332 vacancies filled across 18 developments, only 14 apartments went to veterans. The new reporting mandate will force the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to release public occupancy and application audits annually.

2. Legalizing the LGBTQ+ Liaison Role

Sponsored by Minority Leader David Carr, the third bill legally mandates a permanent LGBTQ+ Veterans Liaison within the Department of Veterans’ Services. The liaison will focus on assisting veterans unjustly discharged under the legacy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in obtaining discharge upgrades to unlock healthcare, housing, and financial assistance.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin stated:

“The City Council is commemorating this Veterans Day with tangible action, passing a package of legislation that will improve life for veterans across the five boroughs... Every veteran deserves to afford to stay in their home and to live with dignity in the city and country they fought to defend.”

The three bills are scheduled for a formal vote in the Veterans Committee on Thursday morning before moving to the full City Council floor for final passage.

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