Tracking List: PILOT

HB4 (HD4) - An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land
Sponsor: Auditor Diana DiZoglio (D)
Co-sponsors: No cosponsors.
Refile: HB2697 (HD2795) - An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land
Overview:

Requires the Treasurer to reimburse each town annually, no later than November 20, for state-owned land using a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes formula based on the land valuation reported by the Commissioner and the average statewide property-tax rate over the prior three years, applied per $1,000 of valuation.

Guarantees a hold-harmless so a town's payment cannot be less than the prior year's amount, except to reflect land removed from the program, and eliminates the term "reimbursement percentage."

This overview was generated by AI and may contain errors. Please verify for accuracy.
Summary:
Amends GL 58:17 (Reimbursement to towns for state-owned land) to provide for reimbursement in set amounts rather than reimbursement according to the amount of money appropriated for that purpose; provides that rates of reimbursement are annual rates for three prior years to be determined by an apportionment of the whole amount of money to be raised by taxation upon property in the commonwealth during each of the three years.
Bill Text: 03/17/2025 - As Filed (PDF)
Introduced Date: 01/08/2025
Progress: House: Favorable
Status: Study order
Last Action:
03/09/2026 
H - Accompanied study order

Bill History:
01/08/2025 
H - Filed in the House

02/27/2025 
H - Referred to Joint Committee on Revenue

03/12/2025 
S - Senate concurred


03/09/2026 
H - Accompanied study order

HB3032 (HD3587) - An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land
Sponsor: Rep. Natalie Blais (D)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Joanne Comerford (D), Rep. Leigh Davis (D)
Refile: No refiled bills.
Overview:

Eliminates the reimbursement-percentage formula for payments in lieu of taxes on state-owned land and requires the State Treasurer to reimburse municipalities annually, by November 20, based on the value reported by the Commissioner multiplied by the average statewide property tax rate over the prior three years, with a hold-harmless floor no less than the prior year's payment except for removed parcels.

Directs the Department of Revenue and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to hold a public hearing within six months and, within one year, submit legislative recommendations to incorporate valuation of carbon storage, sequestration, and other ecosystem services of natural and working lands, considering targeted add-on reimbursements for permanently protected open space and forest cover, drinking water supply lands, cold-water fisheries, endangered or threatened species habitat, outdoor recreation, ecological integrity and landscape connectivity, municipalities with historically lower reimbursement percentages, and jurisdictions with high concentrations of state-owned land.

This overview was generated by AI and may contain errors. Please verify for accuracy.
Summary:
No summary available yet.
Bill Text: 03/18/2025 - As Filed (PDF)
Introduced Date: 01/17/2025
Progress: House: Favorable
Status: Study order
Last Action:
03/11/2026 
H - Accompanied study order

Bill History:
01/17/2025 
H - Filed in the House

02/27/2025 
H - Referred to Joint Committee on Revenue

02/27/2025 
S - Senate concurred


12/18/2025 
H - Extension order filed (until 02/20/2026)

03/11/2026 
H - Accompanied study order

SB1939 (SD1688) - An Act to reform payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land
Sponsor: Sen. Joanne Comerford (D)
Co-sponsors: No cosponsors.
Refile: No refiled bills.
Overview:

Overhauls payments in lieu of taxes for state-owned land by eliminating reimbursement percentages and basing reimbursements on a rate equal to the three-year average of annual property tax rates, determined by apportioning the statewide property tax levy over aggregate municipal valuations. Requires the State Treasurer to reimburse municipalities using reported valuations and guarantees no municipality receives less than the prior year's payment, except when land is removed from valuation.

Directs the Department of Revenue and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, within one year, to submit legislative recommendations to incorporate valuation of carbon storage, sequestration, and other ecosystem services and to strengthen reimbursements to advance natural and working lands goals, including consideration of additional payments for permanent open space, forest cover, specified ecological services, historically lower reimbursements, and higher tiers for municipalities with extensive state-owned land; mandates a public hearing within six months and a 30-day public comment period.

This overview was generated by AI and may contain errors. Please verify for accuracy.
Summary:
No summary available yet.
Bill Text: 03/18/2025 - As Filed (PDF)
Introduced Date: 01/16/2025
Progress: Senate: Favorable
Status: Senate Ways & Means
Last Action:
11/20/2025 
S - Referred to Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Bill History:
01/16/2025 
S - Filed in the Senate

02/27/2025 
S - Referred to Joint Committee on Revenue

02/27/2025 
H - House concurred


11/20/2025 
S - Reported favorably by Joint Committee on Revenue

11/20/2025 
S - Referred to Senate Committee on Ways & Means