132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD		LR 3087(01)
	An Act to Implement Certain Preliminary Recommendations of the Real Estate Property Tax Relief Task Force and to Make Other Changes to Tax Law
	Fiscal Note for the Committee Bill
	Committee: Taxation
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative Cost/Study
			FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	Projections  FY 2027-28	Projections  FY 2028-29
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$11,400,000	$11,628,000	$11,645,000
Revenue
	General Fund		$0	($11,400,000)	($11,628,000)	($11,645,000)
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	($600,000)	($612,000)	($645,000)
Legislative Cost/Study
	The additional general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $1,400 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $2,800 in fiscal year 2026-27. The Legislature’s budget for the 2026-2027 biennium includes $7,253 in fiscal year 2025-26 and $17,696 in fiscal year 2026-27 for the costs of legislative studies, as well as $41,338 of balances carried over from prior fiscal years for this purpose. Whether these amounts are sufficient to fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing budgeted staff resources.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill would result in a revenue decrease to the General Fund of $11,400,000 in fiscal year 2026-27, $11,628,000 in fiscal year 2027-28 and $11,645,000 in fiscal year 2028-29 from increasing the maximum property tax fairness credit to $1,500 for taxpayers under 65 for tax years beginning on or after 1/1/2026. The bill would also result in a revenue decrease to the Local Government Fund of $600,000 in fiscal year 2026-27, $612,000 in fiscal year 2027-28 and $645,000 in fiscal year 2028-29.
	Any additional costs to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the University of Maine from the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.