HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 458        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2852

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Hannah Kane and Vanna Howard

_________________

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:

Date Added:

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

1/12/2023

Vanna Howard

17th Middlesex

1/20/2023

Rodney M. Elliott

16th Middlesex

1/26/2023

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

1/27/2023

Paul A. Schmid, III

8th Bristol

2/1/2023

James C. Arena-DeRosa

8th Middlesex

2/6/2023

Paul McMurtry

11th Norfolk

2/15/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/19/2023

Patricia A. Duffy

5th Hampden

3/30/2023

Bruce E. Tarr

First Essex and Middlesex

4/3/2023

David F. DeCoste

5th Plymouth

4/5/2023

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

4/12/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 458        FILED ON: 1/13/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2852

By Representatives Kane of Shrewsbury and Howard of Lowell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2852) of Hannah Kane, Vanna Howard and others for legislation to promote urban agriculture and horticulture by providing for certain tax exemptions.  Revenue.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

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 2021 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 and may determine whether rooftop and container farm operations shall be eligible for said exemption.