COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133
Senator Joan B. Lovely
State Senator
2nd Essex District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 15, 2020
SEN. LOVELY FILES BILL COSPONSORED BY REPS. HILL & WALSH TO HELP BUSINESSES ORDERED CLOSED BY COMMONWEALTH
BOSTON – Yesterday, Senator Joan Lovely filed, SD3047, An Act relative to real estate tax abatements to help businesses impacted by the Phase IV reopening plan. The bill, cosponsored by Reps. Hill and Walsh, would help businesses that cannot reopen file for property-tax relief in any quarter of the fiscal year.
“Local companies and hard-working employees from the backbone of every Massachusetts municipality,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem). “I know every establishment wants to open again, but until we can safely do so I want to help businesses and their workers by giving them badly needed relief on the tax side so that they can hang on until Phase IV begins.”
The legislation would also hold communities harmless by requiring the Commonwealth to make up the difference for any decreases in tax payments that would result from the passage of this law, which would expire ninety days after the end of the ongoing State of Emergency.
“We need to do what we can to ensure that category four businesses get as much help from the state as we can offer” said Representative Bradford Hill (R-Ipswich). “This is one way to do that.”
SD3047 would help all business entities designated as “Phase IV” by COVID-19 Order No. 35 including wedding venues, theaters, and bars.
“Many local businesses have been very creative and ingenious in adapting to the current business climate,” said Representative Thomas P. Walsh (D-Peabody). “Businesses in the Phase Four category don’t even have that opportunity. This legislation acknowledges their financial plight and encourages an innovative way to assist them during this pandemic.”
The legislation will likely go to the Joint Committee on Revenue for its consideration.