ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 149 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 221st LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED JANUARY 14, 2025
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 149
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 14, 2025
Sponsored by: Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean) Co-Sponsored by: Assemblyman Azzariti Jr. SYNOPSIS Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption of 50 percent of assessed value for primary residence of police officer or firefighter who suffers a line of duty injury that qualifies for accidental disability pension. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced.
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Azzariti Jr.
SYNOPSIS
Proposes constitutional amendment to provide property tax exemption of 50 percent of assessed value for primary residence of police officer or firefighter who suffers a line of duty injury that qualifies for accidental disability pension.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section I of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph 8. Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring): 1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is hereby agreed to: PROPOSED AMENDMENT Amend Article VIII, Section I by adding a new paragraph 8 to read as follows: 8. a. The Legislature shall enact a law granting a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence owned and occupied by a police officer or firefighter who suffered an injury, in the line of duty, that qualifies for an accidental disability pension, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. b. The value of the partial property tax exemption shall equal 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence, except that the exemption shall not reduce the amount of property taxes otherwise assessed on the property by more than $6,500 in the first tax year in which the exemption takes effect, which amount shall be increased each tax year thereafter based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, as defined by law, during the prior tax year. A police officer or firefighter with income exceeding $500,000 in the prior tax year shall not be eligible for the exemption. c. The State shall annually reimburse municipalities in the amount equal to the total amount of property taxes that would have been otherwise assessed for each property subject to the partial property tax exemption authorized in this paragraph had the property been taxed in the same manner as other real property within the municipality. The municipality shall reimburse each county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to levy property taxes within the municipality. Each reimbursement shall be in an amount equal to the property taxes that would have otherwise been due to the county, school district, or other local entity for each property subject to the partial property tax exemption authorized in the paragraph had the property been taxed in the same manner as other real property within the county, school district, or other local entity. 2. When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election. 3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form: There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following: a. In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows: If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No." b. In every municipality the following question: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING PARTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN SERVICE-DISABLED POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS YES Do you approve amending the State Constitution to require the Legislature to enact a law to give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters who have been injured while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension? The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT NO This amendment to the State Constitution would give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters. A police officer or firefighter would have to have suffered an injury while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension. The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. A police officer or firefighter with income of more than $500,000 in the prior tax year would not receive the exemption. The amount of the exemption could increase from year to year based on the rate of inflation. The State would be required to reimburse municipalities every year for the amount of the partial property tax exemption provided to each police officer and firefighter. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The amount of the payment to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each partially exempt property. STATEMENT This proposed amendment to the New Jersey Constitution would require the Legislature to enact a law providing a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence of a police officer or firefighter who suffers an injury in the line of duty and qualifies for an accidental disability pension. The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence of the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. The value of the property tax exemption could not exceed $6,500 in the first tax year in which the exemption takes effect. Thereafter, this amount would be increased annually based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, as defined by law, in the prior tax year. A police officer or firefighter with income over $500,000 in the prior tax year would not be eligible claim the exemption. This income eligibility limit is based on the amount set forth under the Stay NJ property tax credit program, which permits homeowners who are 65 years or older to claim a Stay NJ property tax credit so long as their annual income does not exceed $500,000. The proposed amendment requires the State to annually reimburse municipalities for the total amount of the property tax exemption. The State reimbursement would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have otherwise been due on each property that receives the exemption. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The reimbursement to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each exempt property.
A Concurrent Resolution proposing to amend Article VIII, Section I of the New Jersey Constitution by adding a new paragraph 8.
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey is hereby agreed to:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Amend Article VIII, Section I by adding a new paragraph 8 to read as follows:
8. a. The Legislature shall enact a law granting a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence owned and occupied by a police officer or firefighter who suffered an injury, in the line of duty, that qualifies for an accidental disability pension, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph.
b. The value of the partial property tax exemption shall equal 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence, except that the exemption shall not reduce the amount of property taxes otherwise assessed on the property by more than $6,500 in the first tax year in which the exemption takes effect, which amount shall be increased each tax year thereafter based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, as defined by law, during the prior tax year. A police officer or firefighter with income exceeding $500,000 in the prior tax year shall not be eligible for the exemption.
c. The State shall annually reimburse municipalities in the amount equal to the total amount of property taxes that would have been otherwise assessed for each property subject to the partial property tax exemption authorized in this paragraph had the property been taxed in the same manner as other real property within the municipality.
The municipality shall reimburse each county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to levy property taxes within the municipality. Each reimbursement shall be in an amount equal to the property taxes that would have otherwise been due to the county, school district, or other local entity for each property subject to the partial property tax exemption authorized in the paragraph had the property been taxed in the same manner as other real property within the county, school district, or other local entity.
2. When this proposed amendment to the Constitution is finally agreed to pursuant to Article IX, paragraph 1 of the Constitution, it shall be submitted to the people at the next general election occurring more than three months after the final agreement and shall be published at least once in at least one newspaper of each county designated by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the General Assembly and the Secretary of State, not less than three months prior to the general election.
3. This proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be submitted to the people at that election in the following manner and form:
There shall be printed on each official ballot to be used at the general election, the following:
a. In every municipality in which voting machines are not used, a legend which shall immediately precede the question as follows:
If you favor the proposition printed below make a cross (X), plus (+), or check (a) in the square opposite the word "Yes." If you are opposed thereto make a cross (X), plus (+) or check (a) in the square opposite the word "No."
b. In every municipality the following question:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING PARTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN SERVICE-DISABLED POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
YES Do you approve amending the State Constitution to require the Legislature to enact a law to give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters who have been injured while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension? The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount.
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
NO This amendment to the State Constitution would give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters. A police officer or firefighter would have to have suffered an injury while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension. The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. A police officer or firefighter with income of more than $500,000 in the prior tax year would not receive the exemption. The amount of the exemption could increase from year to year based on the rate of inflation. The State would be required to reimburse municipalities every year for the amount of the partial property tax exemption provided to each police officer and firefighter. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The amount of the payment to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each partially exempt property.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDING PARTIAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION ON PRIMARY RESIDENCE OF CERTAIN SERVICE-DISABLED POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
YES
Do you approve amending the State Constitution to require the Legislature to enact a law to give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters who have been injured while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension?
The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount.
INTERPRETIVE STATEMENT
NO
This amendment to the State Constitution would give a partial property tax exemption to certain police officers and firefighters. A police officer or firefighter would have to have suffered an injury while on duty and qualify for an accidental disability pension. The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence owned and occupied by the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. A police officer or firefighter with income of more than $500,000 in the prior tax year would not receive the exemption. The amount of the exemption could increase from year to year based on the rate of inflation.
The State would be required to reimburse municipalities every year for the amount of the partial property tax exemption provided to each police officer and firefighter. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The amount of the payment to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each partially exempt property.
STATEMENT
This proposed amendment to the New Jersey Constitution would require the Legislature to enact a law providing a partial property tax exemption for the primary residence of a police officer or firefighter who suffers an injury in the line of duty and qualifies for an accidental disability pension.
The amount of the exemption would be 50 percent of the assessed value of the principal residence of the police officer or firefighter, up to a certain amount. The value of the property tax exemption could not exceed $6,500 in the first tax year in which the exemption takes effect. Thereafter, this amount would be increased annually based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index, as defined by law, in the prior tax year.
A police officer or firefighter with income over $500,000 in the prior tax year would not be eligible claim the exemption. This income eligibility limit is based on the amount set forth under the Stay NJ property tax credit program, which permits homeowners who are 65 years or older to claim a Stay NJ property tax credit so long as their annual income does not exceed $500,000.
The proposed amendment requires the State to annually reimburse municipalities for the total amount of the property tax exemption. The State reimbursement would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have otherwise been due on each property that receives the exemption. A municipality would be required to reimburse any county, school district, or other local entity that is authorized to tax property in the municipality. The reimbursement to each entity would be based on the amount of property taxes that would have been owed to each entity from each exempt property.