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MassachusettsH 5103194th General Court (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act authorizing the town of Reading to establish a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

RevenueHouse Steering, Policy and Scheduling

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Property tax break for Reading seniors

The law gives a property tax exemption on your main home in Reading, including condos. You qualify only if your prior‑year income made you eligible for the state circuit breaker credit; you are at least 65 if single, or at least 65 and 60 if filing jointly; you own and live in the home; you (or one joint owner) have owned a home and lived in Reading for 10 straight years; and your home’s assessed value is at or below the circuit breaker cap. The board of assessors must approve your application and can deny it if your assets are too high. The select board sets your exemption each year at 100% to 150% of your prior‑year circuit breaker credit. You must apply every year by the board’s deadline and show income and asset documents. The town spreads the total exemption cost across all residential taxpayers through the residential tax levy.

State sign-off and 3-year limit for Reading seniors

The state Department of Revenue must certify the town’s residential tax rate before any exemptions are granted for that year. The program ends three years after the exemption first starts, unless a new law renews it.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 10 • No: 0

committee vote • 5/14/2026

Committee Favorable: Favorable

Yes: 10 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor, Chapter 111 of the Acts of 2026

    6/25/2026

  2. Enacted and laid before the Governor

    6/15/2026Senate

  3. Enacted

    6/15/2026House

  4. Read second, ordered to a third reading, read third and passed to be engrossed

    6/11/2026Senate

  5. Taken out of the Orders of the Day

    6/11/2026Senate

  6. Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session

    6/8/2026Senate

  7. Read third and passed to be engrossed

    6/4/2026House

  8. Rules suspended

    6/4/2026House

  9. Read second and ordered to a third reading

    5/21/2026House

  10. Rules suspended

    5/21/2026House

  11. Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting

    5/21/2026House

  12. Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling

    5/18/2026House

  13. Hearing scheduled for 05/04/2026 from 09:00 AM-05:00 PM in Written Testimony Only

    4/24/2026legislature

  14. Senate concurred

    2/12/2026Senate

  15. Referred to the committee on Revenue

    2/11/2026House

Bill Text

  • Chapter 111 of the Acts of 2026

    6/25/2026

    PDF

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