New Jersey A 555: "Mental Health Access Act;" increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain evidence-based behavioral health services.

Bill Text

A555 

ASSEMBLY, No. 555 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ROBERT AUTH

District 39 (Bergen)

SYNOPSIS

���� "Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral 
Act"; allows certain seniors to defer property tax payments.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act concerning the deferral of certain senior 
citizens� property tax payments, and supplementing Title 54 of the Revised 
Statutes.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This act shall be known 
and may be cited as the "Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Act."

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds 
and declares that:

���� a.��� The combination of low, 
fixed incomes, and New Jersey�s high cost of living, have created an 
overwhelming challenge for many New Jersey seniors, over 42 percent of whom 
live in economic insecurity;

���� b.��� Property taxes in New 
Jersey have risen dramatically in recent years, climbing on average from less 
than $5,000 in 2002, at which time the State�s property taxes were already 
highest in the nation by some measures, to more than $8,500 in recent years;

���� c.��� Many New Jersey seniors, 
in addition to struggling with low fixed incomes, frequently face health 
emergencies and other problems that may render them unable to handle financial 
matters, or may turn the payment of property taxes into a financially impossible 
task; 

���� d.��� Because property tax 
bills, if neglected for long enough, can result in a tax sale, and eventually 
foreclosure, these bills threaten many seniors with financial catastrophe and 
the eventual loss of home ownership;

���� e.��� Despite the recent 
improvements in unemployment statistics and other economic indicators, New 
Jersey�s foreclosure rate continues to be elevated, and was higher than that of 
any other state in 2018;

���� f.���� Although reverse 
mortgages, in some cases, can offer seniors the extra money necessary to pay 
property tax bills, seniors are often reluctant to enter into these contracts, 
due to concerns that fees and other contractual terms may become more 
burdensome than initially expected; and

���� g.��� It is, therefore, a 
compelling public purpose in the best interests of this State to allow certain 
low-income seniors defer the payment of property taxes until a senior dies, or 
the home is sold or otherwise conveyed.� 

���� 3.��� As used in P.L.��� , 
c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):

���� "Applicant" means an 
eligible senior who submits an application for a tax deferral.

���� "Deferral" or "tax 
deferral" means the delay of bill payment for property taxes pursuant to 
section 4 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as 
this bill).� 

���� "Deferred payments" 
means taxes subject to a deferral.� 

���� "Director" means the 
Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury.

���� "Eligible senior" 
means any person of at least 65 years of age whose residence has an equalized 
assessed value of under $500,000, is not subject to a reverse mortgage, and who 
has an annual household income, for federal income tax purposes, of less than 
$50,000.

���� "Eligible senior�s equity" 
means 75 percent of the equalized assessed value of the residence as determined 
by the municipal assessor for the year in which the eligible senior files a 
claim under section 4 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the 
Legislature as this bill), which amount shall be reduced by the amount of any 
liens against the residence, including the liens for any property taxes already 
deferred.

���� "Residence" means a 
dwelling unit that is occupied by the owner as their principal place of 
domicile.

���� "Reverse mortgage" 
means a home equity conversion mortgage or other similar financial instrument 
marketed as a reverse mortgage.

���� "Senior Citizens Property 
Tax Deferral Fund" means the revolving fund established pursuant to 
section 13 of 
P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending 
before the Legislature as this bill).

���� "Tax-deferred property" 
means the land and residential improvements thereon upon which property taxes 
are deferred.

���� 4.��� a.� An eligible senior 
may apply for an annual deferral of the amount of all property taxes that will 
become due and payable in the subsequent calendar year, as estimated based on 
the property taxes due during the year in which the application is submitted.� 

���� b.��� Each year, the amount of 
the deferral on any eligible senior�s residence shall not exceed 110 percent of 
the property taxes assessed and levied on the residence for the year in which 
the application is submitted, as adjusted to account for the total amount of 
rebates, credits, deductions, or exemptions received by an eligible senior, or 
on behalf of the eligible senior, that are i