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Amend the bill by inserting after the enacting clause and before section 1 the following:
‘Sec. 1.  36 MRSA §507, sub-§5  is enacted to read:
 
5.  Homestead exemption eligibility.    Except as provided in this subsection, each property tax bill issued by a municipality must contain a statement indicating that the property may be eligible for a homestead property tax exemption under subchapter 4-B and providing information on how the property tax owner may apply for an exemption. A municipality is not required to include this statement on a bill for property that is already receiving a homestead exemption or that is obviously not residential property.’
Amend the bill in section 1 in subsection 1-B in the 5th line (page 1, line 8 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "$40,000" and inserting the following: '$20,000'
Amend the bill by adding after section 3 the following:
‘Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Homestead Property Tax Exemption Reimbursement 0886
 
Initiative: Provides funding to increase the homestead property tax exemption from $20,000 to $30,000 and to increase the reimbursement to municipalities from 62.5% to 100%.

GENERAL FUND	2019-20	2020-21	
All Other	$0	$71,960,000	
			
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$0	$71,960,000	
 
’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment increases the homestead property tax exemption to $30,000 instead of $50,000 as in the bill and requires municipalities to include a statement on tax bills regarding the availability of the homestead tax exemption and providing information on how to apply. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)