Bill > H3120

This bill provides municipalities in Massachusetts with the option to create a property tax freeze program specifically designed for elderly and disabled residents who meet certain means-tested criteria. Under this legislation, city or town councils can establish an ordinance that allows qualifying individuals to have their property tax rate and valuation frozen, provided they meet specific requirements. To be eligible, applicants must: own and occupy the property as their primary residence, have lived in the municipality for at least 10 consecutive years, be of a certain age (determined by the local legislative body) or be totally and permanently disabled, and have income and assets below a threshold set by the local council. The board of assessors can deny applications for individuals with excessive assets that would place them outside the intended recipient group. Importantly, this tax freeze exemption would be in addition to any existing legal exemptions and would not remove the property from tax rolls, meaning the property would still be subject to the municipality's bonded indebtedness. The goal of this bill is to provide financial relief and stability for elderly and disabled residents with limited financial resources by preventing their property taxes from increasing due to rising property values or tax rates.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3120