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HD 6234

An Act authorizing the town of Holliston to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption for debt exclusion construction projects

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by James Arena-DeRosa

Holliston may create a means-tested senior property tax exemption tied to debt-exclusion project costs, targeting 65+ homeowners who meet income/assets.

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Bill Summary · HD 6234

Summary of Bill HD 6234 (194th Massachusetts General Court)

Purpose

This act authorizes the town of Holliston to establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption tied to debt-exclusion construction projects. The exemption would apply to qualifying residential parcels and is funded by the local residential tax levy, with eligibility and exemption amounts determined by local processes and state law references.

Key Provisions

  • Exemption scope and basis (Section 1)

    • For each qualifying Class One (residential) parcel in Holliston, the property tax exemption would equal an amount not to exceed the actual cost of borrowing (principal and interest) incurred in any fiscal year for a specific debt-exclusion-funded construction project.
    • The exemption is applied to the taxpayer’s domicile only and may cover condominium units as well.
    • This exemption is in addition to other exemptions allowed by law.

  • Eligibility criteria (Section 2)

    • The Town’s Board of Assessors may deny an exemption if the applicant has excessive assets.
    • Eligibility criteria include all of the following:
    • The property is owned and occupied by a person whose prior-year income would qualify for the circuit breaker tax credit (Massachusetts income tax credit for low-income seniors).
    • Ownership structure: single applicant age 65+ or joint owners where at least one is 65+ and all joint owners meet age requirements.
    • The property is the applicant’s domicile.
    • The applicant (or a joint applicant) has lived in Holliston for at least 10 consecutive years prior to applying.
    • The maximum assessed value of the domicile meets limits tied to the circuit breaker credit (as adjusted annually by the Department of Revenue).
    • The Board of Assessors approves the application.

  • Annual determination of exemption amount (Section 3)

    • The Holliston Select Board must annually set the exemption amount.
    • The exemption must be between 10% and 40% of the prior year’s circuit breaker credit amount for which the applicant qualified.
    • Total exemptions granted under this act must be allocated proportionally within the residential tax levy.

  • Application process (Section 4)

    • Applicants must file annually, by a deadline set by Holliston’s Board of Assessors, with an application form and supporting documentation of income and assets.

  • Funding and certification (Section 5)

    • No exemption may be granted until the Massachusetts Department of Revenue certifies a residential tax rate for the applicable year in which the exemption would be funded by a burden shift within the residential tax levy.

  • Duration and renewal (Section 6)

    • The exemption would expire 3 years after the act’s effective date.
    • Holliston may reauthorize the exemption for additional 3-year periods by a vote of its legislative body.

  • Effective date (Section 7)

    • The act takes effect upon passage.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Senior citizens (generally aged 65+ or in eligible joint-ownership scenarios) who own and occupy qualifying residential property in Holliston and meet income/asset tests consistent with the circuit breaker program.
  • Secondary effects: Holliston’s Board of Assessors and Select Board, as they would administer eligibility, annual exemption amounts, and reauthorization; and the town’s residents as a whole, through the possible impact on the residential tax levy (tax shift used to fund exemptions).

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Exemption amount would be set annually by the Select Board.
  • Applications are annual; recipients must re-qualify each year.
  • Certification by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue is required before grants begin.
  • The exemption lasts for 3 years at a time, with potential reauthorization for future 3-year periods.
  • The act provides a framework to expire and potentially renew the program, subject to town votes and state certification.

Notes

  • The bill is a local option authorizing Holliston to create its own means-tested exemption tied to debt-exclusion construction projects, rather than a statewide program.
  • Specific numeric thresholds (e.g., circuit breaker eligibility amounts and asset tests) reference state law and are subject to annual adjustments by the Department of Revenue.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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