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Senate passes farmland assessment changes after debate over requalification rules
Summary
Senate Bill 45, an amendment to farmland 'greenbelt' assessment rules, passed after senators debated requalification and intent standards; sponsors said the measure refines application and re-verification timing and reported a small fiscal impact.
Senate Bill 45 — a revenue-and-tax amendment addressing farmland assessment (commonly called 'greenbelt') — passed the floor after senators debated how and when property may re-qualify for agricultural valuation and reviewed an updated fiscal note.
Sponsor Senator Lyle Hilliard and floor supporters described an amendment that clarifies counties’ ability to require landowners to reapply every five years (instead of 3–5) if the county assessor requests it in writing. The change was presented as a technical clarification to reduce abuse while allowing counties discretion.
Concerns centered on whether the bill would let property owners who had begun development return to greenbelt status if development stalled. Senators warned that allowing requalification could undermine the purpose of the rollback tax and the five-year rollback rule designed to discourage speculative removal of land from agricultural use.
Senators asserted that requalification requires demonstrable agricultural use — a minimum acreage in production and two years of activity — and that surface improvements transferred to municipalities (roads, lots) will not count toward requalification. Sponsor comments also suggested the fiscal impact would be modest: the updated fiscal note indicated a state portion change from about $600,000 to $500,000 (annual effect reported to be slight).
After discussion, senators called the question and passed SB45 by voice/roll call: 25 ayes, no nays, 4 absent. The bill was sent to the House for further action.
