An Act To Stabilize Property Taxes for Individuals 65 Years of Age or Older Who Own a Homestead for at Least 10 Years
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0290
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: STEWART, BICKFORD, POULIOT

Legislative Document
No. 290
S.P. 126
In Senate, February 3, 2021
An Act To Stabilize Property Taxes for Individuals 65 Years of Age 
or Older Who Own a Homestead for at Least 10 Years
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 1, 2021.  Referred to the Committee 
on Taxation pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator STEWART of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Representative BICKFORD of Auburn and
Senator: POULIOT of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  36 MRSA c. 908-B is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 908-B
PROPERTY TAX STABILIZATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
§6281.  Stabilization of property taxes on homesteads of individuals 65 years of age or 
older
1.  Definitions.  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Eligible homestead" means a homestead occupied by an eligible individual who is 
eligible for a homestead exemption under chapter 105, subchapter 4-B for the property 
tax year during which an application for stabilization is made.
B.  "Eligible individual" means an individual who:
(1)  Is 65 years of age or older; and
(2)  Is a permanent resident of the State as defined in section 681, subsection 4 who 
has owned a homestead in the State for at least 10 years.
C.  "Homestead" has the same meaning as under section 681, subsection 2.
D.  "Stabilize" means to maintain the property tax billed to an eligible individual for 
the individual's eligible homestead at the amount billed for that homestead for the 
property tax year preceding the date of application for stabilization.
2.  Application for stabilization.  An individual may apply by December 1st to the 
municipality in which the individual's homestead is located requesting that the municipality 
stabilize the property tax assessed on that individual's homestead for the property tax year 
beginning on April 1st following the submission of the application.  A new application is 
required for each year for which stabilization is requested.
3.  Stabilization for eligible individual.  If a municipality determines that an applicant 
for stabilization under subsection 2 is an eligible individual and that the individual's 
homestead is an eligible homestead, the municipality shall stabilize the property tax on the 
individual's homestead billed for the property tax year for which stabilization was 
requested.
4.  Transfer of eligibility.  If an eligible individual has been eligible for stabilization 
under this section and establishes a new homestead in the State, the individual continues to 
be eligible for stabilization.  If an eligible individual establishes a new homestead in a 
different municipality, at the request of the eligible individual, the municipality where 
eligibility was first established shall notify the new municipality of the eligible individual's 
previous eligibility and the amount at which the property taxes were stabilized.  The new 
municipality shall bill the eligible individual at the stabilized amount and is eligible for 
state compensation under subsection 5.
5.  State compensation.  A municipality that has stabilized property tax for an eligible 
individual under this chapter may recover from the State 100% of the amount by which the 
property tax assessed on the homestead of an eligible individual in the usual manner 
exceeds the stabilized amount of property tax billed under subsection 3.  A municipality 
claiming compensation under this subsection shall submit a claim to the bureau by 
November 1st of the year in which the property tax was stabilized.  The bureau shall review 
claims and determine the total amount to be paid to each municipality.  The bureau shall 
certify and the Treasurer of State shall pay the amount due to each municipality by January 
15th of the year following the year in which the claim for compensation was submitted.
SUMMARY
This bill requires a municipality to maintain the property tax on the homestead of a 
permanent resident who is at least 65 years of age at the amount billed in the year prior to 
an application for stabilization.  The amount by which the property tax assessed exceeds 
the stabilized amount must be paid to the municipality by the State.  If an eligible individual 
moves to a different municipality, the stabilized property tax amount continues at the new 
location.  An applicant for stabilization must be a permanent resident of the State and must 
have owned a homestead for at least 10 years.  An application for stabilization must be 
made each year to continue eligibility.