Press Room

The Senate took action today to make housing more affordable in Massachusetts, approving new tools that give cities and towns the ability to lower the cost of property taxes and put money directly back in residents’ pockets.

An Act to prevent property tax bill shocks focuses directly on the most vulnerable taxpayers in a community and creates a way to shield them from the shock of an extraordinarily high tax bill in a year when the community’s residential property tax levy is rising by more than 10 per cent. Cities and towns would have the ability to opt into this model and offer a tax credit to gradually phase in the increase for vulnerable households. The credit addresses the shock felt by taxpayers when they receive third- and fourth-quarter tax bills, which fold in the entire tax increase.

An Act relative to senior property tax deferral expands eligibility for the Senior Tax Deferral program in order to keep more money in the pockets of Massachusetts seniors at a time when property values, and therefore local property tax bills, are continuing to climb.

An Act relative to municipal tax relief offers an additional tool for cities and towns to support lower- or middle-income taxpayers who already receive the local-option residential tax exemption.

An Act authorizing the establishment of a mean tested senior citizen property tax exemption makes it easier for towns and cities to offer tax relief to seniors through a local property tax exemption by opting in to a new statewide program.

An Act honoring Blue Star Families recognizes law enforcement officers across Massachusetts who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of their communities. A special license plate will be made available to Blue Star Families out of respect for their loved one’s sacrifice.

An Act improving campaign finance reporting by state ballot question committees boosts transparency around ballot question funding by requiring that those campaigns rise to the same level of disclosure provided by candidates for office. These reforms empower voters to make informed choices and guard against the rise of special interest-driven ballot questions. Massachusetts residents will be able to see more clearly who is funding the proposals they are asked to vote upon.

The Massachusetts Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means voted today to advance a bipartisan suite of four tax relief measures together with a bill to shine transparency on the financial backing of ballot question campaigns. The committee also advanced legislation to create a memorial license plate for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.