Norwich — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday signed a bill that gives Norwich nonprofit entities until Aug. 1 to file paperwork due last November to renew their property tax-exempt status with the city.

State law calls for nonprofits seeking property tax exemptions to file paperwork every four years, and the deadline came up Nov. 1, 2017. In Norwich, at least 18 nonprofits, including United Community and Family Services, missed the deadline. The new law, which takes effect July 1, gives those entities until Aug. 1 to file paperwork and pay a $30 late filing fee.

“Upon verification of the exemption eligibility of such property, the assessor shall approve the exemption for such property,” language in the law states.

City Assessor Donna Ralston denied tax-exempt status automatically to all nonprofits that missed the deadline, and also denied tax-exempt status to about 18 other nonprofits that did file their paperwork. Many of those denied plan to challenge the denials in court and lobby for further changes to state laws governing nonprofits in the fall elections.

UCFS CEO Jennifer Granger said the agency will file by the Aug. 1 deadline and called the oversight the result of leadership transition over the past four years. UCFS, which provides medical, dental and behavioral health services, owns several properties with a total combined assessed value of $4.37 million.