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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2743 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3966
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Jennifer Balinsky Armini , (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 to reform property tax assessments and abatement processes.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Jay Catelli21A Buena Vista St Swampscott, MA
01907
1/16/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2743 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3966
By Representative Armini of Marblehead (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House,
No. 3966) of Jay Catelli for legislation to further regulate the property tax assessments and
abatement processes. 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 to reform property tax assessments and abatement processes.
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. The first paragraph of section 7 of chapter 58A of the General Laws, as
2appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the ninth sentence
3the following sentence:- If the board finds in favor of the appellant, then the appellee shall
4reimburse the appellant the cost of the entry fee for filing the petition.
5 SECTION 2. Section 13 of said chapter 58A, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
6striking out, in line 59, the figure “8” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 14.
7 SECTION 3. Section 38 of chapter 59 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
8amended by adding the following paragraph:-
9 The assessors of each city and town shall make the property card, including the fair cash
10valuation of each estate, available to the public upon request. The assessors of each city and town
11shall mail to the taxpayer of record of an estate the property card for the property, which shall
12include the fair cash valuation, together with a written explanation of the valuation. 2 of 2
13 SECTION 4. Section 59 of said chapter 59, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
14striking out, in lines 4 and 5, the words “on or before the last day for payment” and inserting in
15place thereof the following words:- within 60 days following the tax bill issue date.
16 SECTION 5. Said section 59 of said chapter 59, as so appearing, is hereby further
17amended by inserting, in line 18, after the word “him” the following words:- ; provided further,
18if the assessors of a city or town do not provide to the person aggrieved by the tax the property
19card, including the fair cash valuation as required by section 38, the deadline for applying for an
20abatement shall be extended until 60 days following the date when such valuation and
21documentation are made available.
22 SECTION 6. The second paragraph of section 60 of said chapter 59, as so appearing, is
23hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- Boards of assessors shall record an
24abatement, including an abatement decision by the appellate tax board, on any relevant property
25record card, which shall be open to public inspection.
26 SECTION 7. Said chapter 59 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 61A
27the following section:-
28 Section 61B. The assessors shall notify the person applying for an abatement of when the
29abatement will be considered and shall provide the person with the opportunity to present any
30relevant information to the assessors.