An Act Regarding the Homestead Property Tax Exemption and the Property Value Reassessment Process
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2162
Committee: Taxation
Sponsors: ANKELES, RENY, ARFORD, BRIDGEO, GOLEK, HEPLER, RIELLY, DAUGHTRY
Amends: 36 MRSA §683, 36 MRSA §685, 36 MRSA §1132, 36 MRSA §1135, 36 MRSA §1138, 36 MRSA §1140-C

Legislative Document
No. 2162
H.P. 1384
House of Representatives, January 11, 2024
An Act Regarding the Homestead Property Tax Exemption and the 
Property Value Reassessment Process
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Taxation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative ANKELES of Brunswick.
Cosponsored by Senator RENY of Lincoln and
Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, BRIDGEO of Augusta, GOLEK of Harpswell, 
HEPLER of Woolwich, RIELLY of Westbrook, Senator: DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, it is necessary to make changes to the property tax assessment laws in order 
for those changes to take effect before the assessment and reassessment of property by the 
April 1st statutory date on which the taxable value of property is based; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  36 MRSA §683, sub-§1-C is enacted to read:
1-C.  Additional exemption for tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2024.  For 
property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2024, a homestead eligible for exemption 
under subsections 1 and 1-B is eligible for an additional exemption of $15,000 if the 
homestead has an assessed value of less than $100,000.
Sec. 2.  36 MRSA §685, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. PPPP, §3, 
is amended to read:
D.  For property tax years beginning on April 1, 2022, 73% of the taxes lost by reason 
of the exemptions under section 683, subsections 1 and 1‑B; and
Sec. 3.  36 MRSA §685, sub-§2, ¶E, as amended by PL 2023, c. 412, Pt. II, §1, is 
further amended to read:
E.  For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2023, 76% of the taxes lost by 
reason of the exemptions under section 683, subsections 1 and 1‑B.; and
Sec. 4.  36 MRSA §685, sub-§2, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  For property tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2024, 100% of the taxes lost 
by reason of the exemption under section 683, subsection 1-C.
Sec. 5.  36 MRSA §1132, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §58, is 
amended to read:
4.  Excess valuation factor.  "Excess valuation factor" means a market-based influence 
on the determination of the just value of working waterfront land that would result in a 
valuation that is in excess of that land's current use value but does not exceed an amount 
higher than the average of the 5 years prior to the date of withdrawal of the land from 
current use valuation.  "Excess valuation factor" includes, but is not limited to, aesthetic 
factors, recreational water-use factors, residential housing factors and nonresidential 
development factors unrelated to working waterfront uses.
Sec. 6.  36 MRSA §1132, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §58, is 
amended to read:
11.  Working waterfront land.  "Working waterfront land" means a parcel of land, or 
a portion thereof, abutting that fully or partially abuts water to the head of tide or land 
located in the intertidal zone that is used primarily or used predominantly to provide access 
to or support the conduct of commercial fishing activities.  "Working waterfront land" also 
includes a wharf or pier used by persons engaged in commercial fishing activities that 
include berthing a boat and the location of small fishing houses for commercial fishing gear 
maintenance and storage.  For purposes of this subchapter, a parcel is deemed to include 
property that includes the residence of the person who owns the parcel and a unit of real 
estate notwithstanding the fact that it is divided by a road, way, railroad or pipeline.
Sec. 7.  36 MRSA §1135, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §58, 
is amended to read:
A.  Working waterfront land used predominantly as working waterfront land is eligible 
for a reduction of 20% 30%.
Sec. 8.  36 MRSA §1135, sub-§2, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 466, Pt. A, §58, 
is amended to read:
B.  Working waterfront land used primarily as working waterfront land is eligible for 
a reduction of 10% 20%.
Sec. 9.  36 MRSA §1135, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read:
D.  Working waterfront land that is subject to a legally binding right-of-way or 
easement that permits access to intertidal land for commercial fishing activities is 
eligible for the reduction described in paragraph A, B or C and an additional reduction 
of 10%.
Sec. 10.  36 MRSA §1138, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2021, c. 630, Pt. C, §17, is 
amended by enacting at the end a new first blocked paragraph to read:
If the owner of the property subject to a penalty under this section is unable to pay the 
penalty assessed under this section due to market conditions beyond the owner's control, 
injury or another incapacitating event, the owner may request and the assessor shall, at the 
request of the owner, permit a delay in payment of the penalty of up to 2 years.
Sec. 11.  36 MRSA §1140-C is enacted to read:
§1140-C.  Information bulletin
The State Tax Assessor shall create an information bulletin regarding provisions of the 
current use laws that apply to working waterfront lands and that include any changes made 
to the current use laws after December 31, 2023.  The assessor shall post the bulletin on the 
bureau's publicly accessible website and shall make it available to municipal assessors and 
to members of the public engaged in commercial fishing activities.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill provides an additional homestead property tax exemption of $15,000 for a 
homestead with an assessed value of less than $100,000. 
The bill also amends the laws relating to the current use valuation of working 
waterfront land for property tax purposes.  It amends the definition of "working waterfront 
land" and makes changes to the calculation of current use valuation for certain types of 
working waterfront land.  It allows a delay of the withdrawal penalty payment if the 
property owner is affected by certain conditions that affect the ability of the property owner 
to pay a penalty assessed for withdrawal of working waterfront land from current use 
valuation.  It also directs the State Tax Assessor to create an information bulletin regarding 
current use laws that apply to working waterfront lands that include any changes made to 
the current use laws after December 31, 2023.