HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3280
|
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Steven George Xiarhos, (BY REQUEST)
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases.
_______________
PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Andrew Macdonald | 152 Old County Rd, Sandwich, MA 02537 | 1/17/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3280
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3280) of Andrew Macdonald relative to property tax increases. Revenue. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 38 of chapter 59 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsections:-
(a) In any given fiscal year, the assessed value of an existing residential property, defined as a property not classified as new construction or fully reconstructed, shall not result in an increase in property taxes of more than 20% over the taxes assessed in the previous fiscal year.
(b) Properties that have been reassessed due to a triggering event as defined under existing law, including the sale of comparable properties within a 2% sample size, shall not be subject to further reassessment or additional concurrent property tax increases for a period of at least three fiscal years following the initial reassessment.
(c) For the purposes of this section, “existing residential properties” shall include homes constructed prior to the sale or reconstruction of comparable properties within the triggering event sample size.
SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue shall provide guidelines for implementation and monitor compliance by municipalities. Homeowners shall have the right to appeal any assessment that violates the provisions of this act through the established appeals process.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this act is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.