ALBANY - The New York State Senate Tuesday passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Kenneth LaValle (R-C-I, Port Jefferson) that would establish a fixed real property school tax rate for seniors who are eligible for the enhanced STAR exemption, providing much needed tax relief to hundreds of thousands of seniors throughout New York State.

Under the bill, homeowners aged seventy or older and meet the eligibility requirements for the enhanced STAR exemption would be eligible to apply annually for the fixed real property school tax rate at local option. The state would reimburse school districts for lost revenue caused by freezing the tax rates for seniors.

The bill was sent to the Assembly.