Bay area lawmaker files legislation to help widows of fallen heroes

TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. - On the day the nation honors veterans, a Bay area lawmaker has filed legislation to expand one military benefit to include first responders.

When active duty military personel, who live in Florida,  die in the line of duty, the state grants the surviving spouse a homestead property tax exemption. It means the widow of the fallen hero won't have to worry about paying property taxes on the family home.

State Representative Shawn Harrison, (R) Temple Terrace. wants to extend that same benefit to first responders in Florida. The Fallen Heroes Family Tax Relief Act (HB 95) seeks to give an "exemptionfor surviving spouses of first responders who die in the line of duty."

"We've had so many officers die in the line of duty recently in Tampa Bay, it seemed like the right thing to do," said Harrison. "We should honor police and firefighters the same way we honor our military."