H3280 • 2025

An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases

Taxes

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Steven George Xiarhos (By Request)
Last action: 2026-03-09
Official status: Accompanied a study order, see H5195
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases

An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
3280) of Andrew Macdonald relative to property tax increases.
Revenue.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-03-09 House
Accompanied a study order, see H5195
2025-10-28 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 11/07/2025 from 10:00 AM-02:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
2025-07-14 Joint
Hearing canceled – new hearing TBD
2025-07-11 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Revenue
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to unreasonable property tax increases
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3280) of Andrew Macdonald relative to property tax increases. Revenue.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Bill H.3280

SECTION 1. Section 38 of chapter 59 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following subsections:-

(a) In any given fiscal year, the assessed value of an existing residential property, defined as a property not classified as new construction or fully reconstructed, shall not result in an increase in property taxes of more than 20% over the taxes assessed in the previous fiscal year.

(b) Properties that have been reassessed due to a triggering event as defined under existing law, including the sale of comparable properties within a 2% sample size, shall not be subject to further reassessment or additional concurrent property tax increases for a period of at least three fiscal years following the initial reassessment.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “existing residential properties” shall include homes constructed prior to the sale or reconstruction of comparable properties within the triggering event sample size.

SECTION 2.

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue shall provide guidelines for implementation and monitor compliance by municipalities. Homeowners shall have the right to appeal any assessment that violates the provisions of this act through the established appeals process.

SECTION 3.

If any provision of this act is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

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