Byrne proposes measures to help vets

Republican Bradley Byrne used the Veteran's Day observance to push for legislation that would make members of the military, reserves and Alabama National Guard who return to their homes here after completing active duty deployment outside of the United States eligible for a proposed real estate tax credit.
The tax credit is part of Byrne's Operation Giving Back, a plan he said he would implement as governor to bolster state serves and support for veterans. He said the plan would be a top priority if he was elected.
The initiatives Byrne has included in the program so far are:

to provide an additional homestead exemption tax credit for U.S. military personnel, reservists and Alabama National Guard members who return to their Alabama homes after having been deployed on active duty outside the United States;

to provide resources to supplement the $300 burial allowance provided to qualifying veterans by the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs; and

to convene an expert Advisory Council on Serving Those Who Have Served to assess existing programs for veterans, study 'best practices' in other states for possible replication in Alabama, conduct town hall listening posts to hear straight from the voices of our veterans, and recommend ways the state can better meet the real needs of today's active duty personnel and veterans.

-- posted by Sebastian Kitchen