Massachusetts H5418: An Act authorizing the town of Wakefield to establish a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption

What the bill says

From the introduced text, May 7, 2026:

SECTION 1. With respect to each qualifying parcel of real property classified as class one, residential in the town of Wakefield there shall be an exemption from the property tax in an amount to be set annually by the board of assessors as provided in section 3. The exemption shall be applied to the domicile of the taxpayer only. For the purposes of this act, "parcel" shall be a unit of real property as defined by the board of assessors under the deed for the property and shall include a condominium unit. The exemption provided for herein shall be in addition to any and all other exemptions allowed by the General Laws. SECTION 2. The board of assessors may deny an application if they find the applicant has excessive assets that place the applicant outside the category of intended recipients of the senior exemption created by this act. Real property shall qualify for the exemption under section 1 if all of the following criteria are met: (a) The qualifying real property is owned and occupied by a person whose prior year's income would make the person eligible for the circuit breaker income tax credit under section 6(k) of chapter 62 of the General Laws; (b) The qualifying real property is owned by a single applicant age 65 or older at …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D, 32nd Middlesex) · primary sponsor

Latest actions

1. September 4, 2026: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 206 of the Acts of 2026
2. August 27, 2026: Enacted and laid before the Governor
3. August 27, 2026: Enacted
4. August 24, 2026: Read second, ordered to a third reading, read third and passed to be engrossed
5. August 24, 2026: Taken out of the Orders of the Day
6. July 27, 2026: Read; and placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session
7. July 23, 2026: Read third and passed to be engrossed
8. July 9, 2026: Read second and ordered to a third reading
9. July 9, 2026: Rules suspended
10. July 9, 2026: Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting

Votes

• Committee Vote - Joint Committee on Revenue (July 1, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is H5418?

H5418 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act authorizing the town of Wakefield to establish a means tested senior citizen property tax exemption.

What is the status of H5418?

Signed into law as of September 4, 2026. Latest action: Signed by the Governor, Chapter 206 of the Acts of 2026 (September 4, 2026).

Who sponsored H5418?

Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D, 32nd Middlesex).

Where is the official record for H5418?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5418