2021 Texas Proposition 8 needs to be fixed

In 2021 Texas Proposition 8, the Homestead Tax Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Military Fatally Injured in the Line of Duty Amendment, was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 2, 2021. This proposition passed with 87.76% of the vote.

In early April 2022, I received a letter from the Tarrant County Appraisal District telling me that my application for Surviving spouse of a Member of the Armed Forces Killed in Action of the tax year 2022 has been denied. The letter states that “it is important to understand that “killed while in the line of duty” is different than being killed while on active duty.”  Although they may have followed the letter of the law, I do not believe they have followed the spirit of the new law. Unfortunately, there seems to be a misunderstanding of terms between Lawmakers, Appraisal district employees, and the Department of Defense. Jay's death in 2018 was ruled service-connected, and a Line of Duty was filed and granted by the DoD in 2016.

My husband, Sgt Jeremy "Jay" Seals, died on October 31, 2018, as a Title 10 soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky. He died of Military Medical Malpractice and Neglect combined with the effects of Toxic Exposure-related stomach cancer. After Jay died, I moved home to Texas (Jay’s home of record is listed as The Colony, Texas) in June of 2019 to be close to family again. I have copies of his Line of Duty forms (DA FORM 2173) along with copies of his orders, DD1300 (military death certificate) & DD214 (Separation, died on active duty)