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Senate Bill 347 would strip farm tax breaks for land used for illegal marijuana grows, with narrow exceptions
Summary
A public hearing on Senate Bill 347 drew rural county commissioners, agricultural groups and lawmakers who said the bill would disqualify land from exclusive farm use tax preferences for 10 years if illegal marijuana is produced there; the bill includes exceptions for owners who lacked knowledge or promptly notify law enforcement.
Senate Bill 347 would disqualify land from certain farmland tax reductions for 10 years if an owner, holder or person legally possessing the property received a final civil penalty or a final criminal conviction for illegal marijuana cultivation on that land.
The bill’s sponsor, state Senator David Brock Smith, told the Senate Committee on Judiciary the measure is meant to remove a financial incentive for landowners who knowingly allow illegal grows. “What we want to do is disenfranchise the individuals that are taking the cartel bags of cash,” he said, describing illegal grows as tied to organized crime, human trafficking and an overload on county services.
The bill would exempt landowners or property taxpayers who reasonably lacked knowledge of the illegal activity, who promptly notified law enforcement on actual or constructive…
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