This bill establishes a property tax relief program specifically for senior owners of owner-occupied single-family dwellings in South Dakota. To qualify for a property tax assessment freeze, individuals must be at least sixty-five years old, have owned their dwelling for at least ten consecutive years, have been a resident of South Dakota for at least twenty-five years, and must not have any delinquent real property taxes. The assessment freeze limits the assessed value of the property to the value at which it was assessed when the individual first qualified for the freeze or the 2020 assessment year, whichever is later.

The bill outlines the application process for this property tax relief, requiring applicants to use forms provided by the Department of Revenue and to submit necessary documentation to the county treasurer, who will determine eligibility. If an application is approved by April 1, the applicant will receive the freeze for the upcoming tax year; if submitted after that date, the freeze will apply for the following year. Additionally, individuals who receive the property tax relief can continue to do so in subsequent years as long as they own the property, and they have the option to forgo the freeze by notifying the county treasurer.