Governor Terry Branstad is signing a bill into law today (Monday) that’s designed to make Iowa more attractive to soldiers leaving the military.
The bill eliminates state income taxes on military pensions for soldiers and their surviving spouses. It also makes it easier for soldiers to earn academic credit for their military training and experience, if they decide to seek a degree at an Iowa college or university. In addition, state boards will now be required to take into account a soldier’s military skills when the soldier applies for a professional license. The Congressional Research Office says the average age of a soldier who retires from the military is between 40 and 45, which means they start a second career.
Branstad will sign a second bill that extends a homestead tax credit for disabled veterans. Last week a social networking site that focused on personal finance ranked Iowa as the 13th best state for military veterans to retire.
Branstad served as a military policeman during the Vietnam Era.
