Lawmakers hear testimony to include equine businesses in Vermont current-use program (H.273)

Members of the House Committee on Agriculture heard testimony on H.273, a bill that would expand Vermont’s current-use (use-value appraisal) program to recognize a broader set of equine farming activities, during a committee Zoom session. Advocates from the equine industry presented survey data, economic-impact figures and personal examples to argue the change would help preserve open land and keep equine businesses viable.

The bill matters, proponents said, because equine operations contribute tourism and in‑state spending, manage large parcels of open land, and face tax and regulatory barriers that have contributed to recent business closures. Testimony combined industry survey results, a 2019 economic-impact study and a small follow-up phone survey of equine business owners to illustrate the scale and trends.

Heidi (presenter) summarized the industry evidence, citing a 2019 economic-impact study that estimated about $37 million in visitor spending tied to horse events and roughly $46 million in in‑state spending by horse owners; the study also reported an estimated $1.3 million annually in tax revenue connected to equine activity and…