Holland Reporter

The Michigan Senate has approved a piece of legislation aimed at helping homeowners move into their new homes. 

Senate BIll 940 was introduced by Sen. Roger Victory (R-Hudsonville) and was approved on June 3. The legislation will be helping homeowners who were delayed in their moving to get a break on property taxes. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) stay-at-home order, which has been criticized by Republicans made it impossible for homeowners to move into their new homes before June 1, but Victory said that homeowners still deserve some relief from their tax filing process.

“This bill is about limiting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the governor’s orders on new Michigan homeowners,” Victory Said on his senate website.. “The governor’s stay-at-home executive order banned all nonessential home construction, delaying the completion of some new Michigan homes. This reform would allow hardworking folks affected by the governor’s action to still receive this key property tax relief.”

Homeowners will be given an extended time frame for filing for their principal residence exemption for their 2020 summer property tax levy. This deadline previously was June 1 but has been extended to July 1 in cases when homeowners were not allowed to move into their new home because of Whitmer’s ban on nonessential construction projects. 

“The PRE exempts a homeowner’s principal residence from the tax levied by a local school district for operating purposes, up to 18 mills,” according to Victor's website. “The homeowner must file an affidavit with their local unit of government where the property is located.”

The bill is now being reviewed by the House of Representatives. 

The affidavit for exemption of the summer tax levy during non-coronavirus years would have been June 1.

Victory previously served in the House of Representatives, representing Michigan’s 88th District for six years.