AB133,,1 2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 133

March 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Oldenburg, Novak, Shankland, Tranel, C. Anderson, Considine, Hurd, Jacobson, Mursau, Schmidt, VanderMeer, Bare, Joers, Krug, Nedweski, Penterman, Subeck, Myers and Pronschinske, cosponsored by Senators Testin, Taylor, Pfaff, Spreitzer, Ballweg, Hesselbein, Marklein, Quinn, Smith, Tomczyk, Carpenter, Roys, Wanggaard and Cowles. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AB133,,2 An Act to amend 71.613 (2) (intro.), 71.613 (2) (a), 71.613 (2) (b), 71.613 (2) (c), 91.04 (intro.) and 91.62 (1) (a); and to create 71.613 (1) (h) 4., 71.613 (2) (am), 71.613 (2) (bm), 71.613 (2) (cm), 71.613 (2) (d), 71.613 (2e) and 91.04 (2) (bm) of the statutes; relating to: farmland preservation agreements and tax credits.

AB133,,3 Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes the following changes involving farmland preservation agreements and farmland preservation tax credits:

1. Decreases the minimum required length of a farmland preservation agreement between the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and a farmland owner to 10 years from 15 years. Under current law, a farmland owner who enters into a farmland preservation agreement with DATCP may be eligible to receive farmland preservation tax credits for his or her qualifying acres of farmland.

2. Requires DATCP to include in a report submitted to the Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the Joint Committee on Finance, the standing committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over agriculture, the Department of Revenue, and the Department of Administration a review of the tax credit amounts for qualifying acres for the farmland preservation tax credit and recommendations for the tax credit levels for qualifying acres of farmland. Current law requires DATCP to submit a report about farmland and the farmland preservation program once every two years to the board, DOR, and DOA.

3. Under the farmland preservation tax credit, increases from $7.50 to $10 the amount that may be claimed, per qualifying acre, for qualifying acres that are located in a farmland preservation zoning district but are not subject to a farmland preservation agreement.

4. Under the farmland preservation tax credit, increases from $5 to $10 the amount that may be claimed, per qualifying acre, for qualifying acres that are subject to a farmland preservation agreement but are not located in a farmland preservation zoning district.