Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
                  FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document                                                                   No. 576
S.P. 229                                                           In Senate, February 24, 2021
           An Act To Increase Property Tax Relief for Veterans
   Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 22, 2021. Referred to the Committee
on Taxation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
                                                                         DAREK M. GRANT
                                                                        Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, CLAXTON of Androscoggin, MAXMIN of Lincoln,
RAFFERTY of York, Representatives: BRYANT of Windham, DOUDERA of Camden.
                                       Printed on recycled paper
 1   Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
 2       Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶L is enacted to read:
 3       L. For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2022, the following exemptions
 4       are increased or expanded:
 5           (1) The exemptions under paragraphs C, C-1, D, D-1, D-2 and D-3 are expanded
 6           to include otherwise eligible veterans who served during the period from February
 7           1, 1955 to February 27, 1961; and
 8           (2) The exemptions provided under paragraphs C, C-1, D, D-2 and D-3 are
 9           increased to $10,000.
10       Sec. 2. 36 MRSA §653, sub-§1, ¶M is enacted to read:
11       M. Notwithstanding paragraph H, a municipality granting increased or expanded
12       exemptions under paragraph L is entitled to reimbursement from the State equal to
13       100% of the property tax revenue loss suffered by that municipality during the previous
14       calendar year as a result of increased or expanded exemption authorized under
15       paragraph L. Application for and processing of reimbursement due under this
16       paragraph must be made in the manner provided in section 661.
17       Sec. 3. Application. This Act applies to property taxes based on the status of
18   property on or after April 1, 2022.
19                                         SUMMARY
20       This bill increases to $10,000, beginning on or after April 1, 2022, the property tax
21   exemption for all categories of eligible veterans other than paraplegic veterans receiving a
22   $50,000 exemption for specially adapted housing units. It also expands the dates of
23   federally recognized war periods to include February 1, 1955 to February 27, 1961. State
24   reimbursement is provided for 100% of the property tax revenue loss to municipalities as
25   a result of the increase and expansion of exemptions.
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