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MaineLD 294132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Expand Municipal Volunteer Program Eligibility Requirements in the Municipal Property Tax Assistance Laws

Sponsored By: Stephan Bunker (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

INCOME TAXINCOME TAX - CREDITS

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New property tax help for volunteers

Beginning January 1, 2026, towns can create an expanded program that lets eligible volunteers earn help on property taxes. You can get up to the larger of $1,000 or 100 times the state minimum hourly wage each year. Eligible volunteers include people age 60 or older, volunteer firefighters, and licensed volunteer EMS. Benefits must match the amount of service you provide, and towns set the detailed rules. These benefits are not counted as income for Maine income tax (Part 8). You cannot join both the original and the expanded volunteer programs in the same tax year.

Maine taxes some assistance benefits

If your municipal property tax assistance shows up in your federal adjusted gross income, Maine now counts it as taxable income too. This applies to assistance paid under town programs covered by the law. This ties Maine to what appears on your federal return. Note: Benefits from the new expanded volunteer program are not counted as income for Maine income tax (Part 8).

Baseline rules for town property tax aid

Town property tax aid programs must meet base rules unless they use the special volunteer options. Towns set how long you must keep a homestead, must offer help to both owners and renters, and must give proportionally bigger help to lower‑income claimants. Towns may add more eligibility rules by ordinance. These base rules do not apply to the special volunteer programs created by this law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Stephan Bunker

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 337

    6/17/2025

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/12/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/11/2025House

  4. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED Bill READ ONCE. Committee Amendment "A" (H-621) READ and ADOPTED. Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-621) in concurrence.

    6/11/2025Senate

  5. Reports READ.On motion of Representative CLOUTIER of Lewiston, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-621) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-621). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/10/2025House

  6. Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025House

  7. Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on TAXATION pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401.

    1/30/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-621), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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