SENATE DOCKET, NO. 759        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1691

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Edward J. Kennedy

_________________

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:

 

Edward J. Kennedy

First Middlesex

 

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/25/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

1/25/2019

Patrick M. O'Connor

Plymouth and Norfolk

1/30/2019

Diana DiZoglio

First Essex

1/30/2019

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

1/30/2019

Anne M. Gobi

Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex

1/30/2019

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

2/1/2019

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

2/1/2019

Marc R. Pacheco

First Plymouth and Bristol

2/1/2019

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

2/4/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 759        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1691

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1691) of Edward J. Kennedy, Jack Patrick Lewis, Mike Connolly, Patrick M. O'Connor 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 Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

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, as appearing in the 2016 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following clause: -

Fifty-ninth. Up to 100 percent of the assessed value of real estate in agricultural, horticultural or agricultural and 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, horticultural or agricultural and horticultural use is less than 2 acres in area; provided further, that gross sales of agricultural, horticultural or agricultural and horticultural products resulting from such uses together total not less than $500 in the previous year. The exemption provided in this clause shall apply only to the portion of real estate in agricultural, horticultural or agricultural and horticultural use. This clause shall take effect in any city or town upon acceptance of this section; provided, that such city or town has a population of at least 50,000 inhabitants or meets the definition of a gateway municipality under section 3A of chapter 23A. 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.