SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2456 FILED ON: 1/31/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2469
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Edward J. Kennedy
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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 defining agritourism.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Edward J. Kennedy | First Middlesex |
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Jacob R. Oliveira | Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester | 11/1/2023 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2456 FILED ON: 1/31/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2469
By Mr. Kennedy, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2469) (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Edward J. Kennedy and Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation to define agritourism. Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. |
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 2643 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act defining agritourism.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 128 of the General laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 1A, the following new section:-
SECTION 1B:
"Agritourism" is defined as "an agriculturally related educational, entertainment, historical, cultural, or recreational activity, including you-pick operations or farm markets, conducted on a farm that allows or invites members of the general public to observe, participate in, experience, or enjoy that activity."
Section 2 - MGL 40a, Section 3, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after the first paragraph the following:-
These protections afforded in the previous paragraph shall apply to agritourism activities as defined in Chapter 128, Section 1B, provided that the agritourism activity must:
1. Generate no more than 25%of the gross farm income. Of the remaining income, at least 65% must come from the sale of product grown on the farm or another qualifying Massachusetts farm, a minimum of 35% of which must be produced at the farm at which the agritourism activity takes place.
2. A non-farming property owner may conduct agritourism on a property provided that:
a. At least 75% of the acreage of the property is dedicated to traditional agricultural activities
b. At least 50% of the agricultural product produced on the property, by either gross sales or volume, are purchased by the property and utilized in the agritourism activity.