BILL NUMBER: S2253

SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to increas-
ing the acreage of farm woodland which qualifies as land used in agri-
cultural production for agricultural assessment purposes

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would double the amount of woodlands eligible for an
agricultural assessment.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Sections 1: Amends paragraph (d) of subdivision 4 of section 301 of the
agricultural and markets law to change the maximum acreage for agricul-
tural assessment of farm woodlands from fifty (50) acres to one hundred
(100) acres.

              

Section 2: Provides an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many farms have woodlands on their property which exceed fifty acres,
but some only barely exceed that amount, causing local assessors to
divide a single woodlot into two separate parcels so that one may be
assessed at the "highest and best use" while the other receives an
assessment based upon its agricultural value. In many instances, the
former is only a few small acres of land. As we continue farm preserva-
tion efforts, this legislation would allow farmers, particularly in
areas of the state with greater development pressure, to remain stewards
of their land for generations to come.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S. 2085 referred to Agriculture

2019: S. 2085 referred to Agriculture

2018: S.4535 Passed Referred to Agriculture

2017: 5.4535 Passed Senate

2016: S.6613 Passed Senate

2015: S.1916 Passed Senate

2013, 2014: S.4331 Passed Senate

2011, 2012: S.847-A/A.6212-A Passed Senate

2009, 2010: S.2474/A.5955 Referred to Agriculture

2007, 2008: S.4453/A.6523 Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately