By Bob Katzen
These three bills were all given initial approval by the House in April but have not moved since. They are stuck in the Bills in Third Reading Committee.
EXPAND PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS FOR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS (H 2890) – Would expand the current law which provides a property tax abatement to the surviving spouses and minor children of police officers and firefighters “killed in the line of duty.” The bill provides that the abatement also go to the families of officers who “died in the line of duty.”
“Killed in the line of duty” has a limited definition usually meaning the individual lost their life in an incident, accident or due to violence that are directly related to their service. “Died in the line of duty” is broader and can account for a number of medical emergencies like stroke or heart attack.
“This legislation honors the sacrifice of our brave police and firefighters,” says sponsor Rep. Paul McMurtry (D-Dedham). “This simple language change will assure that surviving family members receive the tax benefit they are deserving of and what I believe was the original intention of the exemption.”
TAX INCENTIVE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE (H 2852) – Would promote urban agriculture and horticulture by allowing Gateway cities as well as cities and towns, with populations of more than 50,000, to exempt from property taxes any land of two acres or less that is used for commercial urban agriculture and horticulture. Additionally, the parcel must have had at least $500 in gross sales of agricultural or horticultural products in the prior year to be eligible for the tax exemption.
“Rep. Vanna Howard (D-Lowell) and I filed this bill together to support small-scale urban agriculture, which expands access to healthy food and promotes economic growth in cities,” says co-sponsor Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “In addition to these benefits, urban agriculture also improves environmental health and makes local food systems more resilient. By incentivizing urban agriculture, this bill will help cities obtain the benefits of these operations.”
INCREASE PARKING FINES (H 3326) – Would allow cities and towns to double the maximum fine for some parking violations. Current law sets a maximum fine for many violations at $50 if paid within 21 days, $55 if paid after 21 days and $75 if paid after the parking clerk reports the parking offense and fine to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
The bill increases the fines to $100 if paid within 21 days, $110 if paid after 21 days and $150 if paid after the parking clerk reports the parking offense and fine to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Rep. Susan Gifford (R-Wareham), the bill’s sponsor, says the current maximum fines have not been changed since 2004, nearly twenty years ago. “This bill does not establish any minimum fines or mandate an increase in any existing fines,” continued Gifford. “It merely gives communities the option to adopt policies that better suit local needs and enforcement priorities.”