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H 4027

Bishop Dr. Floyd A. Knowlin 50 years of ministry

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terry Alexander and 121 co-sponsors

MA bill expands motor vehicle excise tax exemption to include permanent loss of use of one foot or one hand, or a permanent-disability determination by the medical advisory board.

Introduced and adopted
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Bill Summary · H 4027

Summary — H 4027

Note on record: the legislative file for H 4027 as provided contains two distinct documents that appear to have been merged in the source data: (1) a Massachusetts bill that would amend motor vehicle excise tax exemptions for persons with disabilities, and (2) a South Carolina House resolution honoring Bishop Dr. Floyd A. Knowlin. The primary bill text for H 4027 is the Massachusetts measure below; the Bishop Knowlin text is a ceremonial resolution and not part of the tax-change language.

Bill at a glance

  • Bill number: H 4027 (House Docket No. 1179)
  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts (statutory amendment); a separate ceremonial resolution for South Carolina appears in the record
  • Title (statutory portion): An Act relative to motor vehicle excise tax exemptions for a person with a disability
  • Sponsors: Rep. Bruce J. Ayers (filed with petition of Bruce J. Ayers; Natalie M. Higgins also listed)
  • Classification: Legislative act (statutory change); separately a House resolution (ceremonial)
  • Key procedural dates (from record):
    • Filed: 01/14/2025
    • Referred to Committee on Revenue: 04/10/2025
    • Senate concurred: 04/14/2025 (record shows concurrence)
    • Hearing scheduled: 06/16/2025 (1:00–5:00 PM, A-1)
    • Introduced and adopted (resolution portion): 02/18/2025

Purpose and intent

The Massachusetts text seeks to broaden eligibility for the motor vehicle excise tax exemption currently afforded to persons with certain permanent physical disabilities.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 1 of Chapter 60A of the Massachusetts General Laws (as in the 2022 Official Edition).
  • Replaces the phrase “or permanent loss of use of, both legs or both arms” with expanded language that:
    • Explicitly includes “permanent loss of use of 1 or both feet” and “permanent loss of use of 1 or both hands,” and
    • Adds eligibility for persons “determined by the medical advisory board established under section 8C of chapter 90 to be permanently disabled.”
  • Exact proposed insertion (paraphrased): adds single-foot and single-hand loss-of-use and permits medical-advisory-board determinations under ch. 90, §8C, to qualify an individual for the exemption.

Who is affected

  • Primary: vehicle owners in Massachusetts who have permanent loss of use of one or both feet or one or both hands, or who receive a permanent-disability determination from the chapter 90 medical advisory board — these individuals would become eligible for the motor vehicle excise tax exemption.
  • Secondary: municipal tax collectors and local governments — potential reduction in excise revenues and administrative updates to exemption application/verification procedures.
  • State agencies: the medical advisory board under ch. 90 has a defined role in disability determinations.

Expected impact and next steps

  • Legal effect: expands statutory exemption criteria, making more disabled vehicle owners eligible for excise tax relief.
  • Administrative effect: towns and cities would need to accept or reference medical advisory board determinations and adjust exemption processing; potential guidance from the Department of Revenue may follow.
  • Legislative status: referred to Revenue committee and scheduled for hearing (06/16/2025). Further committee action, floor votes, and final enactment would be required for the change to take effect.

Separate item in the file

  • The record also includes a South Carolina House resolution honoring Bishop Dr. Floyd A. Knowlin on his 50 years of ministry (ceremonial recognition). That resolution is informational/ceremonial and unrelated to the Massachusetts tax amendment.

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

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