This is an update to the news article dated 03/29/10.

 

Most of the bills of interest potentially affecting either taxation on agricultural properties or agricultural property owners died in committee.  The Working Waterfronts bill made it through the Senate, but died before House action.  Look for it again next year.  The “illegal workers” bill died in committee.  We will likely see it again, too.

 

The two most significant bills were SB 2074 and SB 2182.  The House version (HB 7103) of SB 2074 passed.  The bill is known as the “Agricultural Land Acknowledgement Act.”   The House version (HB 981) of SB 2182 passed overwhelmingly.  This is the proposed change to FS 193.461 (Greenbelt), providing offering property for sale does not constitute a primary use of land and may not be used as the basis for denying Greenbelt Agricultural Classification if the agricultural use continues while the property is being offered for sale.  The proposal also contained appraisal provisions for conservation improvements or equipment.  The conservation improvements language was modified shortly before passage to cover only horticultural freeze-protection equipment.

 

Surprisingly, the Greenbelt bill received considerable late, and in our opinion apparently negatively biased and ill-informed, attention and misleading information from media opponents.  The Governor vetoed both agriculture bills.