Committee approves tax deduction for Farmers Bridge Assistance payments
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Summary
House Bill 1159 would let farmers exclude payments received under a federal bridge assistance program from state taxable income. The committee passed the bill by voice vote after the sponsor explained the covered row and specialty crops and answered clarifying questions.
The Ways & Means Committee passed House Bill 1159 on a voice vote. Leader Gamble said the bill would provide farmers with a state income-tax deduction equal to payments received through the Farmers Bridge Assistance Program, bringing parity with prior disaster-relief exemptions so farmers can retain the full federal payments for recovery and operating costs.
The presenter listed qualifying crops that include row crops (corn, barley, oats, peanuts, sorghum, wheat, canola, flax and others) and said specialty crops such as fruits, vegetables and tree nuts are included. Committee members briefly questioned the scope and whether specific seed types (for example, rapeseed/canola) were covered; the sponsor clarified examples and answered questions about coverage.
The committee recorded a motion and passed the bill by voice vote; the transcript records 'Aye' and the chair announced the bill passed. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally.
Provenance: Sponsor presentation describing covered crops and intent, followed by committee voice vote recorded in transcript.
