BILL NUMBER: S581
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to increas-
ing the acreage of farm woodland which qualifies as land used in agri-
cultural production for agricultural assessment purposes
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would double the amount of woodlands eligible for an
agricultural assessment.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1: Amends paragraph (d) of subdivision 4 of section 301 of the
agricultural and markets law to change the maximum acreage for agricul-
tural assessment of farm woodlands from fifty (50) acres to one hundred
(100) acres.
Section 2: Provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Many farms have woodlands on their property which exceed fifty acres,
but some only barely exceed that amount, causing local assessors to
divide a single woodlot into two separate parcels so that one may be
assessed at the "highest and best use" while the other receives an
assessment based upon its agricultural value. In many instances, the
former is only a few small acres of land. As we continue farm preserva-
tion efforts, this legislation would allow farmers, particularly in
areas of the state with greater development pressure, to remain stewards
of their land for generations to come.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.6015 referred to Agriculture/A.2978 referred to Agriculture
2021-2022: 5.2253 referred to Agriculture/A.8526 referred to Agriculture
2019-2020: S.2085 referred to Agriculture
2018: S.4535 passed Senate
2017: S.4535 passed Senate
2016: S.6613 passed Senate
2015: S.1916 passed Senate
2013-2014: S.4331 passed Senate
2011-2012: S.847-A passed Senate/A.6212-A referred to Agriculture
2009-2010: S.2474 referred to Agriculture/A.5955 referred to Agriculture
2007-2008: S.4453 passed Senate/A.6523 referred to Agriculture
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.