Amendment #5 to H4791

Reducing Burdens on Homeowners with Property Tax Arrears

Ms. Nguyen of Andover moves to amend the bill by adding the following sections:-

SECTION XXXX. Section 57 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out in line 11 the words “14 per cent” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

8 per cent

SECTION XXXX. Section 62 of chapter 60, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out in line 8 the words “sixteen per cent” and inserting in place thereof the following words:-

8 per cent

And to further amend the bill by inserting after Section 10 the following section:-

SECTION XXXX. Said section 62A of said chapter 60, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the first paragraph and replacing it with the following: -

Municipalities shall for owner-occupied homes authorize payment agreements between the treasurer and persons entitled to redeem parcels in tax title. Such agreements shall be for a maximum term of no more than 10 years or such lesser period as the ordinance or bylaw may specify and may waive not more than 50 per cent of the interest that has accrued on the amount of the tax title account. If a homeowner aged 60 or older or whose primary source of income is disability benefits is on the deed for the parcel and the parcel is his or her primary residence, municipalities shall waive at least 75 per cent of the total interest that has accrued on the amount of the tax title and purchasers shall waive at least 75 per cent of the interest that has accrued since the purchase of the tax title.

And to further amend the bill by inserting in line 211 after the word “order.” the following:-

If no claim has been received within 3 years, the funds shall be surrendered to the state treasurer and disposed of by the state treasurer pursuant to chapter 200A.

And to further amend the bill by inserting after Section 13 the following section:-

SECTION XXXX. Section 76 of said chapter 60, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting, after the word “therefor” the following words:-

and shall have discretion in equity to fashion remedies to facilitate the redemption of the property by the taxpayer owner including but not limited to:

A.Waiving amounts of interest that have accrued on the original sum;

B.Fashioning a reasonable payment plan to repay the amounts owed; and

C.Placing the amounts owed in a non-interest-bearing subordinate lien on the property.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #5 to H4791

Reducing Burdens on Homeowners with Property Tax Arrears