CHEYENNE - More Wyoming residents could receive property tax breaks if the House passes bills to expand tax refunds and exemptions for veterans, the disabled and the poor.

The House Revenue Committee approved the bill, HB 151, on Monday. It would raise income limits for the disabled and senior citizens to qualify for tax breaks. The bill next goes to the House for consideration.

As amended, the bill would give tax breaks for disabled people and senior citizens with incomes of less than $17,500. It would also give breaks to married couples who make less than $28,500 if at least one spouse is totally disabled or over 65 years old.

Current Wyoming law gives tax refunds to disabled people and senior citizens with income of no more than $13,500 for singles and no more than $22,000 for married couples.

Under the bill, people without property are also eligible for tax refunds on sales, fuel, and other taxes.

Rep. Rodney "Pete" Anderson, R-Pine Bluffs, chairs the House Revenue Committee. He said the bill amendments, sponsored by Rep. Pat Childers, R-Cody, addressed complaints from constituents statewide that property taxes have been too high.

Anderson said the three main property tax bills would adjust existing statutes to account for inflation, rather than being completely new legislation.

"We are just trying to make this legislation more attractive," Anderson said.

The committee rejected two bills Friday endorsed by Gov. Dave Freudenthal. The bills would have given property tax exemptions to senior citizens over the age of 65 regardless of income.

Anderson said the governor's approach was unfair to low-income property owners regardless of age because it wasn't need-based.

"If people don't need it, why should they get it?" Anderson said.

However, the committee approved two other property tax bills that would provide more veterans and low-income people with tax relief.

Wyoming law currently gives property tax exemptions to veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. HB 33, approved by the House Monday, would extend the qualifying service time periods for veterans to receive the exemptions.

The exemptions would apply to veterans' primary residences and motor vehicles.

Rep. Pete Illoway, R-Cheyenne, sponsored the veterans' bill. Illoway said the time extensions were amended in an effort to include younger veterans of the wars.

The bill will need two more House approvals before being sent to the Senate.

Another bill, HB 92, received the House Revenue Committee's endorsement Friday. It would amend a current property tax refund program to give more low-income people tax breaks.

The bill, sponsored by the Joint Revenue Committee, would give property tax breaks to people who have lived in the state for five years or more who have household incomes less than two-thirds of their county's average annual household income. The bill will go to the House next for consideration.

The committee also on Friday approved another bill, HB 162, sponsored by House Majority Leader Colin Simpson, R-Cody. It would tie residential property tax increases to the inflation rate.

Anderson said the committee approved Simpson's bill because it could only take effect if Wyoming voters approve a constitutional amendment allowing the change. That bill will go to the House for consideration next.