Chapter 015
2024 -- H 7111
Enacted 05/10/2024

A N   A C T
RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION -- TOWN OF JOHNSTON

Introduced By: Representatives Fellela, Cardillo, Perez, and Costantino

Date Introduced: January 10, 2024

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 44-3-13 of the General Laws in Chapter 44-3 entitled "Property
Subject to Taxation" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     44-3-13. Persons over the age of 65 years — Exemption.
     (a) Bristol. The town of Bristol may exempt from taxation the real estate situated in the
town owned and occupied by any resident over the age of sixty-five (65) years, as of the preceding
December 31st; or, over the age of seventy (70) years, as of the preceding December 31st; or, over
the age of seventy-five (75) years, as of the preceding December 31st, and which exemption is in
addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the resident may otherwise be
entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay. Only one
exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all
the cotenants, joint tenants and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over as of
the preceding December 31st. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for
payment of the tax on real estate. The town council of the town of Bristol shall, by ordinance,
establish the value of this exemption.
     (b) Central Falls. The city of Central Falls may, by ordinance, exempt from taxation, real
or personal property located within the city of any person sixty-five (65) years or over, which
exemption shall be in an amount not exceeding seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500) of
valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation and tax
credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any other provision of law.
     (c) Cranston.
     (1) The city council of the city of Cranston may, by ordinance, exempt from valuation for
taxation the real property situated in the city and owned and occupied by any person over the age
of sixty-five (65) years which exemption is in an amount not exceeding nine thousand dollars
($9,000) and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which
the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard
to ability to pay.
     (2) The city council of the city of Cranston may, by ordinance, exempt from valuation for
taxation the property subject to the excise tax situated in the city and owned by any person over the
age of sixty-five (65) years, not owning real property, which exemption is in an amount not
exceeding three thousand dollars ($3,000) and which exemption is in addition to any and all other
exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be
applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay.
     (d) East Greenwich. The town council of the town of East Greenwich may, by ordinance,
and upon any terms and conditions that it deems reasonable, exempt from taxation the real estate
situated in the town of East Greenwich owned and occupied by any resident of the age of sixty-five
(65) to seventy (70) years, as of the preceding December 31st up to an amount of twenty-six
thousand dollars ($26,000); or, of the age of seventy (70) to seventy-five (75) years, as of the
preceding December 31st up to an amount of thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000); or, of the age
of seventy-five (75) to eighty (80) years, as of the preceding December 31st up to an amount of
forty-two thousand dollars ($42,000); or, of the age of eighty (80) to eighty-five (85) years, as of
the preceding December 31st up to an amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000); or, of the age of
eighty-five (85) years or more, as of the preceding December 31st up to an amount of fifty-eight
thousand dollars ($58,000), and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions
from taxation to which the resident may otherwise be entitled. The exemption shall be applied
uniformly and without regard to ability to pay. Only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants,
joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants
by the entirety are eligible for an exemption pursuant to this subsection. The exemption applies to
a life tenant who has the obligation for payment of the tax on real estate.
     (e) Lincoln. The town council of the town of Lincoln may, by ordinance, exempt from
taxation the real property, situated in said town, owned and occupied for a period of five (5) years
by any person over the age of sixty-five (65) years, which exemption shall be in an amount not
exceeding twenty-four thousand four hundred and forty dollars ($24,440) of valuation, and which
exemption shall be in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which said person
may be otherwise entitled. Said exemption shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability
to pay.
     (f) North Providence. The town council of the town of North Providence may, by
ordinance, exempt from valuation for taxation the real property located within the town of any
person sixty-five (65) years or over, which exemption is in amount not exceeding ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) of valuation and which exemption shall be in addition to any and all other
exemptions from taxation and tax credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any
other provision of law.
     (g) Tiverton. The town council of the town of Tiverton may, by ordinance, exempt from
taxation the real property situated in the town owned and occupied by any person over the age of
sixty-five (65) years, and which exemption is in an amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars
($10,000) of valuation, and which exemption is in addition to any and all other exemptions from
taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be applied uniformly
and without regard to ability to pay. Only one exemption shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants,
and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety
are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life tenant who has the obligation
for the payment of the tax on real property.
     (h) Warren. The town council of the town of Warren may, by ordinance, exempt from
taxation the real property situated in the town owned and occupied by any person over the age of
sixty-five (65) years, and which exemption is in amount not exceeding thirty thousand six hundred
fifty-six dollars ($30,656) of valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other
exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption shall be
applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay. Only one exemption shall be granted to
cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants,
and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life
tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on the real property.
     (i) Warwick. The finance director of the city of Warwick may, by ordinance, exempt from
taxation owner occupied residential real property or personal property located within the city of
any person sixty-five (65) years or over, which exemption is in an amount not exceeding twelve
thousand dollars ($12,000) of valuation and which exemption is in addition to any and all other
exemptions from taxation and tax credits to which the person may be entitled by this chapter or any
other provision of law.
     (j) Westerly. The town council of the town of Westerly may, by ordinance, exempt from
taxation a real property situated in the town owned and occupied for a period of five (5) years next
prior to filing of an application for a tax exemption, by any person over the age of sixty-five (65)
years, and which exemption is in an amount and pursuant to any income limitations that the council
may prescribe in the ordinance from time to time, and which exemption is in addition to any and
all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be otherwise entitled. The exemption
shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay. Only one exemption shall be granted
to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all of the cotenants, joint tenants,
and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over. The exemption applies to a life
tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on real property.
     (k) Charlestown. The town council of the town of Charlestown may, by ordinance, and
upon any terms and conditions that it deems reasonable, create a tax dollar credit reduction of
taxation against real estate situated in the town of Charlestown owned and occupied by any resident
of the age of sixty-five (65) years or over, and which credit is in an amount and pursuant to any
income limitations that the council may prescribe in the ordinance, from time to time, and which
credit is in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which the person may be
otherwise entitled. The credit shall be applied uniformly and without regard to ability to pay. Only
one credit shall be granted to cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety, even though all
of the cotenants, joint tenants, and tenants by the entirety are sixty-five (65) years of age or over.
The credit applies to a life tenant who has the obligation for the payment of the tax on real property.
     (l) Johnston.
     (1) Notwithstanding any general law to the contrary, the town council of the town of
Johnston may, by ordinance, exempt from taxation the real property situated in the town of Johnston
owned and occupied by any person sixty-five (65) years of age or over. An owner of an owner-
occupied dwelling who has attained the age of at least sixty-five (65) years and who is a resident
of the town of Johnston, as provided in said ordinance, shall be entitled to a tax credit in the amount
of:
     (i) Eight hundred dollars ($800) for fiscal year 2025;
     (ii) Nine hundred dollars ($900) for fiscal year 2026; and
     (iii) One thousand dollars ($1,000) for fiscal year 2027 and thereafter.
     (2) There shall be only one such credit granted to co-tenants, joint tenants, or tenants by
the entirety, even though all such co-tenants, joint tenants, or tenants by the entirety are sixty-five
(65) years of age or over and who own and occupy the same residential property located in the town
of Johnston.
     (3) The credit shall be in addition to any and all other exemptions from taxation to which
the person may be otherwise entitled; provided, however, the total amount of all credits and
exemptions shall not exceed the amount of the eligible resident owner's total residential property
tax bill in that fiscal year.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003855
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