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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania Bill 286 authorizes local property tax freezes for eligible senior citizens and disabled residents
Last action · January 23, 2025: Referred to FINANCE, Jan. 23, 2025Sponsors: Jim Prokopiak and 23 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania House Bill 286 authorizes all local s to freeze real property taxes at a base-year amount for qualifying senior citizens, widows or widowers, and permanently disabled individuals with annual household incomes of $45,000 or less. The Department of Revenue must develop a standardized application form, compile program performance data, and report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2030. The act takes effect in 60 days.
Qualifying lower-income homeowners aged 65 or older, widows or widowers aged 50 or older, or permanently disabled residents who have lived in their homes for at least 10 years can cap their municipal property tax liability, protecting them from future tax rate or assessment increases.
- House Bill 286 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on January 23, 2025, and referred to the Committee on Finance. context
- Title 53 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes governs municipal corporations and authorities throughout the Commonwealth. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Senior citizens and disabled homeowners
Qualifying residents are eligible to have their municipal property taxes frozen at a base-year amount.
Political subdivisions
Municipalities are authorized to grant annual property tax freezes and must assist the Department of Revenue with reporting data.
Department of Revenue
The department must create standardized application forms, compile program performance data, publish annual reports, and submit a final report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2030.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for the property tax freeze under House Bill 286?
Does this bill automatically freeze my property taxes across Pennsylvania?
How long does the tax freeze last once approved?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 23, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to FINANCE, Jan. 23, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 19 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Local Option Property Tax Freeze
The bill shifts authorization to local political subdivisions to implement senior citizen property tax freezes rather than mandating a statewide program.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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