SENATE DOCKET, NO. 598        FILED ON: 2/3/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1893

 

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

 

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/26/2021

Michelle L. Ciccolo

15th Middlesex

2/26/2021

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

3/11/2021

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

3/11/2021

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

3/15/2021

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

3/19/2021

Eric P. Lesser

First Hampden and Hampshire

3/19/2021

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

3/31/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 598        FILED ON: 2/3/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1893

By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1893) of Edward J. Kennedy, Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Michelle L. Ciccolo, Michael O. Moore and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote urban agriculture and horticulture.  Revenue.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1691 OF 2019-2020.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

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 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.