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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 6, 2017 10:36 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative P. Michael Sturla |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Re-introduction of Clean and Green legislation |
| In the near future I will re-introduce House Bill 1447 (Clean & Green) from the 2015-2016 Legislative Session. The Clean and Green program is a state program designed to preserve agricultural and forest land. The purpose of Clean and Green (ACT 319) is to provide a real estate tax benefit to owners of agricultural or forest land by taxing that land on the basis of its “use value” rather than its market value. This act provides preferential assessment to any individuals who agree to maintain their land solely devoted to agricultural use, agricultural reserve, or forest reserve use. This legislation would amend the Farmland and Forest Land Assessment Act of 1974, to require that those seeking preferential assessment for agricultural land in the Clean and Green Program have submitted an Agricultural Erosion and Sediment Control Plan, Manure Management Plan, National Pollutant Discharge System Permit for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and a Nutrient Management Plan. Those seeking preferential assessment for forest land would only be required to obtain an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan. It should be noted that these plans are all currently required by law. However, many landowners receiving a preferential assessment and the resulting tax benefits are non-compliant with the requirements of existing law. It is estimated that approximately half of those now participating in the Clean and Green program do not have the required plans submitted. This legislation would use a two year time frame to insure that all lands are compliant. It is imperative that we are doing our part as stewards of the land as well as make certain that tax dollars are being used properly. Please join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB1053