Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §654, sub-§1, ķE, as amended by PL 1995, c. 545, §1, is further amended to read:

E. The residential real estate up to the just value of $4,000 owned or held in a revocable living trust for the benefit of and occupied as the permanent residence of inhabitants of Maine who are legally blind as determined by a properly licensed Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy or Doctor of Optometry; and

SUMMARY

Current law provides a property tax exemption on residential real estate up to the just value of $4,000 for persons who are blind. This bill extends that exemption to apply to residential property that is held in a revocable living trust for a person who is blind and who occupies the property as that person's permanent residence. This change mirrors the exemptions granted to veterans and under the Maine resident homestead property tax exemption program.