Bill > HB814

This bill amends Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to create a "Senior Property Tax Freeze" subchapter. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It allows all political subdivisions in Pennsylvania to grant annual property tax freezes to eligible senior citizens (age 65 or older who have been residents of the state for at least 5 years) whose household income does not exceed $80,000 annually. 2. Under the tax freeze, eligible seniors will have their property taxes frozen at the base year amount (the tax year preceding the first year of the freeze or the year immediately preceding the senior's approval for the freeze) for as long as they remain eligible. 3. The Department of Community and Economic Development is required to compile and publish an annual report on the program, including the number of participating political subdivisions, the number of individuals granted the tax freeze, and the total tax savings. 4. The subchapter is set to expire on January 1, 2030, after which the General Assembly will review the eligibility criteria and effectiveness of the tax freeze.