Substitute Senate Bill No. 1343 proposes significant amendments to municipal reporting and property tax assessment regulations in Connecticut, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and October 1, 2025. Key provisions include a requirement for municipalities to submit annual reports on expenditures for local capital improvement projects, with penalties of $100 for non-compliance, and to certify the amount of tax exemptions approved annually, incurring a $250 penalty for failure to submit the necessary forms. 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 allows local governing bodies to abate taxes for individuals unable to pay, contingent upon approval from a standing abatement committee, and mandates the transmission of digital parcel files to regional councils or the Office of Policy and Management by specified deadlines.

Further changes include the replacement of the term "secretary" with "assessor" in various contexts, allowing assessors to grant extensions for tax reduction applications under certain circumstances. The bill establishes penalties for homeowners who fail to disclose relevant information in their applications and modifies notification procedures for property assessments, requiring written notice of valuation increases. It also shifts communication methods from certified mail to electronic mail and establishes a committee for the training and certification of assessment personnel. The bill eliminates the Office of Policy and Management's authority to approve certain tax abatements, transferring that responsibility to municipal committees, and removes the requirement for municipalities to certify compliance with zoning regulations for family child care homes after December 1, 2025. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline municipal processes while enhancing the qualifications and training of municipal assessors and tax collectors.

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