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Bill

HD 782

An Act relative to the withholding of property taxes by utility companies

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Orlando Ramos

Massachusetts bill would allow utility companies to withhold portion of property tax payments from customers, potentially disrupting municipal tax revenue collection and creating disputes between utilities and local governments.

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Bill Summary · HD 782

Legislative bill overview

HD 782 would authorize utility companies in Massachusetts to withhold a portion of property tax payments on behalf of their customers. The bill establishes a mechanism allowing utilities to deduct and retain property taxes from customer payments, presumably to cover utility-related obligations or disputed amounts owed to municipalities.

Why is this important

Property taxes are a fundamental municipal revenue source funding schools, public services, and infrastructure. Allowing utilities to intercept or withhold these payments could impact municipal budgets and create disputes between local governments and utility companies over tax revenue collection and accountability.

Potential points of contention

  • Municipal revenue disruption: Cities and towns depend on reliable property tax collection; withholding by utilities could create cash flow problems and require municipalities to pursue separate collection actions
  • Customer protection ambiguity: The bill's specifics on customer notification, dispute resolution, and protection against erroneous withholding are unclear and could leave property owners vulnerable
  • Regulatory authority conflicts: Questions exist regarding whether utilities have proper statutory authority to act as tax collectors and whether this violates the separation between utility regulation and municipal tax administration

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

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