This bill amends the eligibility criteria for the homestead property tax reimbursement program, commonly referred to as the senior freeze program, by lowering the age requirement for surviving spouses of eligible claimants from 65 to 62 years. Under the current law, a surviving spouse could only begin receiving benefits once they reached 65 years of age. The bill allows these individuals to qualify for the reimbursement as long as they are 62 or older on or before December 31 of the tax year for which the reimbursement is sought, provided they meet other eligibility requirements, such as ownership of a homestead and compliance with income limits.

The changes made by this bill are intended to provide financial relief to surviving spouses at an earlier age, thereby expanding access to the benefits of the homestead property tax reimbursement program. Additionally, the bill specifies that these amendments will be retroactive to January 1, 2024, ensuring that eligible surviving spouses can benefit from the new age requirement as of that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 54:4-8.67