Massachusetts SD 1197: An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land

Bill Text

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1197        FILED ON: 2/12/2021 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1875 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
_________________ 
PRESENTED BY: 
Adam G. Hinds 
_________________ 
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General 
 Court assembled: 
 The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: 
An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land. 
_______________ 
PETITION OF: 
 
NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS:  
Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and 
Hampden 
 
Suzanne M. Bump Auditor of the Commonwealth  
Joanne M. Comerford Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester  
Maria Duaime Robinson 6th Middlesex 2/19/2021 
James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester 3/8/2021 
Eric P. Lesser First Hampden and Hampshire 3/18/2021 
Susannah M. Whipps 2nd Franklin 3/19/2021 
Diana DiZoglio First Essex 8/13/2021 
Susan L. Moran Plymouth and Barnstable 8/13/2021 

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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1197        FILED ON: 2/12/2021 
SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1875 
By Mr. Hinds, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1875) of Adam G. Hinds, Suzanne 
M. Bump, Joanne M. Comerford, Maria Duaime Robinson and other members of the General 
Court for legislation to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land.  Revenue. 
 
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 
_______________
 
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court 
(2021-2022) 
_______________
 
 
An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land. 
 
 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority 
of the same, as follows: 
 
1 SECTION 1. Section 16 of chapter 58 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking 
2out the words “reimbursement percentage”.   
3 SECTION 2. Section 17 of chapter 58 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking 
4out the section in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-  
5 Section 17. The treasurer in every year, not later than November twentieth, shall 
6reimburse each town in which the commonwealth owns lands for the purposes named in section 
7thirteen an amount in lieu of taxes upon the value of such land as reported to him by the 
8commissioner under the preceding section, determined by multiplying each thousand dollars of 
9valuation or fractional part thereof by the rate and in an amount provided for as follows:-  
10 The rate equal to the average of the annual rates for three years preceding that in which 
11such value is laid, said annual rates to be determined by an apportionment of the whole amount 
12of money to be raised by taxation upon property in the commonwealth during each of the said 

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13three years, as returned by the assessors and approved by the commissioner, upon the aggregate 
14valuation of all towns for each of the said three years, as returned under section 10C of chapter 
1558t.  
16 The amount shall never be less than that paid in the prior year, except for the value of 
17land removed from the program as described in section 15 of chapter 58.