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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 929 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3503
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Carmine Lawrence Gentile
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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 to modernize property tax abatements for veterans.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex1/17/2023Patrick Joseph Kearney4th Plymouth2/16/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 929 FILED ON: 1/17/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3503
By Representative Gentile of Sudbury, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3503) of
Carmine Lawrence Gentile and Patrick Joseph Kearney for legislation to modernize property tax
abatements for veterans. Veterans and Federal Affairs.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2393 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to modernize property tax abatements for veterans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 There shall be established a special commission to study and recommend ways to
2modernize and increase property tax abatements and exemptions for veterans and surviving
3spouses available under M.G.L. ch. 59. The study shall include, but not be limited to: (i) a review
4of the current tax abatements and exemptions for veterans and surviving spouses available under
5the chapter; (ii) a determination of the relation of tax abatements and exemptions to United
6States Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating, and; (iii) recommendations to create a
7system of abatements and exemptions which link United States Department of Veterans Affairs
8disability rating to abatement and exemption amount.
9 The commission shall consist of: two persons to be appointed by the Senate President,
10one of whom shall serve as co-Chair, at least one of whom shall be a veteran; two persons to be 2 of 2
11appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall serve as co-Chair,
12at least one of whom shall be a veteran; one person to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the
13Senate, who shall be a veteran; one person to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House
14of Representatives, who shall be a veteran; the Secretary of the Department of Veterans’
15Services or a designee; The Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard or a designee;
16the Director of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Regional Office or a
17designee; the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, or a designee; the
18Executive Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association or a designee; the Massachusetts
19Department Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans or a designee; the president of the
20Massachusetts Association of Assessing Officers or a designee; and five persons to be appointed
21by the Governor, one of whom shall be a Local Veterans Services Officer, one of whom shall be
22a surviving spouse and no fewer than three of whom shall be veterans.
23 The commission may solicit input through public hearings and testimony.
24 The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations with the Clerks of
25the Senate and House of Representatives and the Senate and House Committees on Ways and
26Means not later than December 1, 2024.