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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3280
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Steven George Xiarhos, (BY REQUEST)
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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 relative to unreasonable property tax increases.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Andrew Macdonald152 Old County Rd, Sandwich, MA
02537
1/17/2025 1 of 2
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
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Section 38 of chapter 59 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding
2the following subsections:-
3 (a) In any given fiscal year, the assessed value of an existing residential property, defined
4as a property not classified as new construction or fully reconstructed, shall not result in an
5increase in property taxes of more than 20% over the taxes assessed in the previous fiscal year.
6 (b) Properties that have been reassessed due to a triggering event as defined under
7existing law, including the sale of comparable properties within a 2% sample size, shall not be
8subject to further reassessment or additional concurrent property tax increases for a period of at
9least three fiscal years following the initial reassessment.
10 (c) For the purposes of this section, “existing residential properties” shall include homes
11constructed prior to the sale or reconstruction of comparable properties within the triggering
12event sample size. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 2. The Massachusetts Department of Revenue shall provide guidelines for
14implementation and monitor compliance by municipalities. Homeowners shall have the right to
15appeal any assessment that violates the provisions of this act through the established appeals
16process.
17 SECTION 3. If any provision of this act is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the
18remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.