An Act to provide municipalities with the option to freeze residential tax rate or valuation for the elderly with means tested criteria

HD 1937 allows Massachusetts municipalities to create a property tax freeze program for eligible elderly residents (65+ or disabled) with limited income and assets. The bill requires cities/towns to set specific income and asset thresholds, and applicants must prove they meet these limits, own their home as a primary residence, and have lived in the community for at least 10 years. This freeze applies to the tax rate and valuation of real property but does not remove the property from tax rolls or exempt it from municipal bonded debt. The program is optional for municipalities and operates alongside existing tax exemptions.