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H 3131

Law enforcement

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Todd Rutherford

Reduces MA Clause 22H residency for veteran property tax exemption from 5 years to 1 year, expanding eligibility for veterans and surviving spouses and lowering tax revenue.

Member(s) request name removed as sponsor: Taylor
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Bill Summary · H 3131

Summary — H 3131 (House Bill)

Title / Short description

An Act incentivizing veterans to reside in the Commonwealth — amends Massachusetts property-tax exemption residency eligibility for veterans.

Main purpose and intent

The bill reduces the minimum residency requirement for veterans to qualify for a particular local property tax exemption under Clause 22H of section 5 of chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws. The stated aim is to incentivize veterans to reside in Massachusetts by expanding eligibility for that exemption.

Key provision(s)

  • Amends Clause 22H of Section 5, Chapter 59 (as in the 2020 Official Edition) by striking the phrase “5 consecutive years” and replacing it with “1 year.”
    • Effect: a veteran (or qualifying surviving spouse) would need to have been a resident for 1 year (rather than 5 consecutive years) to meet the residency requirement for the exemption specified in Clause 22H.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Veterans and qualifying surviving spouses seeking the municipal property tax exemption under Clause 22H — more veterans would become eligible sooner after moving to Massachusetts.
  • Local governments / municipalities: potential increase in the number of approved exemptions could modestly reduce property tax revenue in some cities/towns, shifting local fiscal impacts depending on uptake.
  • Assessors/municipal officials: administrative effect from processing more exemption applications and applying the amended residency criterion.

Procedural status & timeline (as provided)

  • Prefiled: 12/05/2024
  • Introduced and read first time in House: 01/14/2025 (referred to Committee on Judiciary initially)
  • Referred to Committee on Revenue: 02/27/2025
  • Senate concurred: 02/27/2025
  • Sponsor name removal request (Taylor): 03/26/2025
  • Hearing scheduled before committee: 06/24/2025, 10:30 AM–1:00 PM (Room A-2)

Fiscal & policy considerations

  • Fiscal: Broader eligibility may produce a modest increase in exemption claims, reducing local property tax receipts to an extent that depends on the number of veterans who move and apply.
  • Policy: Lowers an eligibility barrier intended to encourage veterans to relocate or return to Massachusetts; may be part of wider veteran-support policy efforts.

Notes / anomalies

  • The bill text packet provided also contains an unrelated South Carolina draft (prohibiting law enforcement use of cell-site simulators). That South Carolina language is not part of the Massachusetts bill and appears to be appended in error.

Related / prior filings

  • Similar matter in prior session: House No. 2924 (2023–2024)
  • Related docket: HD 2935 (replaces)

If you want, I can draft a one-page fiscal note estimating potential municipal revenue impact given veteran population data for a selected city or for the Commonwealth as a whole.

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

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