New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has approved a bill that will allow homeowners with outstanding property taxes to remain eligible for a tax exemption program.
A. 5374, signed December 10, delays enforcement of a statute enacted under the fiscal 2021 budget that requires property owners to pay their past-due property taxes in full to qualify for the basic School Tax Relief (STAR) exemption. The extension continues until the end of the COVID-19 state disaster emergency declared via executive order by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in March 2020. The bill also requires the tax department to notify delinquent property owners of the extension.
The bill, sponsored by Assembly member Karen McMahon (D), was approved by the Assembly on a 147-0 vote May 25 and was substituted (S. 5132) and approved by the Senate 63 to 0 on June 3. The bill takes effect immediately with the governor's signature.
Hochul signed legislation in September extending the moratorium on tax lien sales and evictions until January 15, 2022, to continue protecting taxpayers affected by the pandemic.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.