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S 2070

Requires the department of veterans' services to establish and maintain a database of resources available in the state for veterans, members of the uniformed services, and their families

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 6 co-sponsors

Annual increases to veteran property tax abatements (clause Twenty-second through Twenty-second H) must not exceed the CPI rise each year.

REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2070

Summary — S. 2070 (2025): An Act relative to veteran tax abatements

Purpose

S. 2070 amends Massachusetts property tax law to require municipalities to raise certain existing veteran-related property tax abatements each year, subject to a cap tied to the annual change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The intent is to preserve the real (inflation-adjusted) value of local tax abatements granted under specified veteran-related clauses.

Key provision

  • The bill inserts a new clause (“Twenty-second I”) into Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
  • New clause text (summary): “Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, an abatement granted pursuant to clause Twenty‑second, Twenty‑second A, Twenty‑second B, Twenty‑second C, Twenty‑second D, Twenty‑second E, Twenty‑second F, Twenty‑second G, Twenty‑second H shall be increased annually by a city or town in an amount not to exceed the increase in the cost of living as determined by the Consumer Price Index for such year.”
    • Effectively: each year municipalities must increase the amount of these veteran-related abatements, but the annual increase cannot exceed the CPI increase for that year.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: veterans and others who receive property tax abatements under the existing clauses Twenty‑second through Twenty‑second H of G.L. c.59 §5 (these are the statutory municipal abatements/exemptions tied to veteran status or related qualifications).
  • Municipal governments (cities and towns): required to adjust abatements annually and will incur reduced property tax revenues (or increased budgetary cost) to the extent abatements increase.
  • State government: the bill does not appropriate state funds; fiscal effects are primarily local. Administrative guidance may be required from the Department of Revenue or other agencies.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal: likely small-to-moderate, cumulative local revenue loss depending on CPI and number of recipients in each municipality. Impact varies widely across municipalities based on local caseloads and current abatement amounts.
  • Administrative: municipalities must establish an annual process to calculate CPI changes and apply increases to qualifying abatements. No new state funding or implementation details are specified.

Legislative status and timeline (as provided)

  • Filed in the Senate (S. 2070) — docketed 01/14/2025; presented 01/22/2025 by Sen. Michael F. Rush.
  • Introduced/Read in the Senate: June 12, 2025 (read twice, referred).
  • Current status listed as: Referred to Veterans’ Affairs.

Notes and considerations

  • The bill applies only to abatements already specified in clauses Twenty‑second through Twenty‑second H; it does not create new abatements or change eligibility standards for those clauses.
  • The phrase “shall be increased… in an amount not to exceed the increase in the cost of living” implies municipalities must increase abatements annually but are limited by CPI; implementation nuances (e.g., rounding, CPI series used) would need clarification in guidance or implementing regulation.
  • Municipalities’ fiscal capacity and local policy choices may affect how increases are implemented in practice.

For full text and current status, consult the Massachusetts General Court website and the Legislative Docket for S. 2070.

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

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