Senate Bill 841 aims to enhance farmland preservation efforts in Wisconsin by authorizing the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to award implementation grants to various local governments and tribal authorities for activities related to certified farmland preservation plans. The bill outlines specific eligible activities for grant funding, including certifying zoning ordinances, enrolling land in preservation agreements, and conducting outreach programs. Additionally, it establishes a requirement for DATCP to enter into contracts with grant recipients that detail eligible costs and benchmarks for fund distribution.

The bill also proposes significant changes to current law regarding agricultural enterprise areas and tax credits. It increases the maximum area for designated agricultural enterprise areas from 2,000,000 acres to 3,000,000 acres. Furthermore, it introduces a mechanism to index the farmland preservation income tax credit for inflation, ensuring that the credit amounts, currently set at $10 or $12.50 per qualifying acre, will adjust annually based on agricultural price changes. This indexing will begin in August 2026, with specific guidelines for adjustments based on price indices.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.115(7)(dm), 20.115, 20.115(7)(tm), 71.613(2)(intro.), 71.613, 91.84(1)(b), 91.84