Substitute Senate Bill No. 1343 proposes significant changes to municipal reporting and property tax assessment processes in Connecticut. It mandates that municipalities submit annual reports on local capital improvement project expenditures by September 1, 2025, with a $100 penalty for non-compliance, and certify tax exemptions by May 1, incurring a $250 penalty for failure to do so. The bill also modifies the assessment of tangible personal property to reflect acquisition costs and depreciation, while excluding property owned by public service companies. Additionally, it adjusts deadlines for towns to transmit digital parcel files to regional councils of governments and updates zoning regulations to treat family child care homes similarly to residential dwellings, requiring compliance statements by December 1, 2024, and December 1, 2025.

Moreover, the bill shifts the responsibility for tax reduction applications from the secretary to the municipal assessor, requiring applications to be substantiated with a homeowner's federal income tax return and Social Security statement. It allows assessors to notify property owners of assessment increases via electronic mail instead of certified mail and establishes a committee for the training and certification of assessment personnel. The bill repeals and substitutes several sections of the general statutes to reflect these changes, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. Notably, it eliminates the OPM's authority to approve certain tax abatements, transferring that responsibility to municipal abatement committees, and requires assessors to notify taxpayers of any property assessment increases without exceptions.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 12-120c, 12-124, 8-3j, 12-19b, 12-20b, 12-40a, 12-130a
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 12-120c, 12-124, 8-3j, 12-19b, 12-20b, 12-40a, 12-130a
File No. 289: 12-120c, 12-124, 8-3j, 12-19b, 12-20b, 12-40a, 12-130a