AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOVERY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES IN ACTIONS FOR WRONGFUL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT.

HB 6997 allows property owners who successfully challenge a wrongful property tax assessment in court to recover reasonable attorney's fees if the court reduces their tax bill. The bill amends state law to explicitly permit courts to award these fees as part of relief, which was not previously required under current law. It directly affects property owners appealing excessive or illegal tax assessments and municipalities that may have to pay these fees if they lose such cases. The change applies only when a court reduces the assessment, and it takes effect October 1, 2025. Currently, courts already require municipalities to reimburse overpaid taxes if an assessment is reduced, but this bill adds attorney's fees to that remedy.