SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2030        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1532

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Linda Dorcena Forry

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote urban agriculture and horticulture.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Linda Dorcena Forry

First Suffolk

 

Thomas M. McGee

Third Essex

2/1/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

2/1/2017

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

2/1/2017

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

2/1/2017

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

2/2/2017

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

2/2/2017

Eileen M. Donoghue

First Middlesex

2/3/2017

Daniel Cullinane

12th Suffolk

2/3/2017

Rady Mom

18th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Marc R. Pacheco

First Plymouth and Bristol

4/4/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2030        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1532

By Ms. Forry, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1532) of Linda Dorcena Forry, Thomas M. McGee, Jason M. Lewis, Marjorie C. Decker and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote urban agriculture and horticulture.  Revenue.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act to promote urban agriculture and horticulture.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 5 of Chapter 59 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, as appearing in Section 123 of Chapter 218 of the Acts of 2016, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following clause:-

Fifty-ninth. Up to 100% of the assessed value of real estate in agricultural or horticultural use, as those terms are defined in Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter 61A, provided that the real estate or portion thereof in agricultural or horticultural use is more than a tenth of an acre, but less than two acres in area.  The exemption provided in this clause shall apply only to the portion of real estate in agricultural or horticultural use.  Any part of any such real estate that is used for other than agricultural or horticultural uses, shall not be exempt under this clause.  This clause shall take effect in any city or town with a population of 50,000 inhabitants or more upon acceptance by such city or town.  The legislative body of any city or town that accepts this clause shall establish and may thereafter modify the percentage of the assessed value exempt from taxation.