Mark Pinsley, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Senate District 16 and a six-year U.S. Army Reserve veteran, supports House Bill 1257 — a constitutional amendment that would expand Pennsylvania’s property tax exemption for disabled veterans.
It passed the Pennsylvania House 193–6 on March 24, 2026, and is now in the Senate. (HB 1257 · House Roll Call 877)
The problem
Right now, the exemption is all or nothing, and the rules are written into the state constitution. A veteran only qualifies if all of these are true:
- They served during a war.
- They were honorably discharged.
- They are blind, paraplegic, a double or quadruple amputee, or 100% permanently disabled.
- The state decides they are in financial need.
A veteran rated 90% disabled gets nothing. Neither does one disabled in a peacetime training accident. Because the rules are in the constitution, only an amendment can change them.
What HB 1257 would do
- Veterans rated 100% permanently disabled would pay no property tax on their home — whether or not they served in wartime.
- No more financial need test.
- Wider eligibility: veterans discharged under conditions “other than dishonorable,” and Reserve service named directly.
- Covers veterans paid at the 100% rate because they can’t work due to a service-connected disability.
- Towns and school districts could choose to give partial breaks to veterans rated below 100%.
- Surviving spouses are protected, including spouses of service members killed in the line of duty, held as prisoners of war, or missing in action.
Why this Senate seat matters
A constitutional amendment has to pass the legislature twice, in two sessions in a row, and then voters decide.
HB 1257 has passed the House once. The second vote would come in 2027–28 — the term the senator elected on November 3 will serve.
Jarrett Coleman’s record
Coleman hasn’t voted on HB 1257 yet.
He does have a veterans vote on record. In July 2024, the Senate voted 48–1 to expand the Pennsylvania veterans registry, which helps connect veterans with their benefits. Coleman was the only senator to vote no. It became Act 71. (Roll Call 604)
The cost question
Every property tax break shifts cost to other homeowners or to schools and towns.
Pinsley says the state shouldn’t hand local governments an unfunded mandate and call it honoring veterans. Supporting HB 1257 means also helping school districts and towns cover the cost — especially poorer ones, which often have the most veterans. It’s the same point he makes about school funding: Harrisburg too often makes the decision and sends the bill to local property taxpayers.
Keeping veterans in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania lost 31% of its veterans between 2012 and 2022, according to bill co-sponsor Rep. Jared Solomon, as states like Florida and Texas offer better benefits. New Jersey and New York also treat disabled veterans more generously — and they’re close enough to move to.
District 16 covers parts of Lehigh and Bucks counties. The general election is November 3, 2026.
