The proposed bill introduces the "Working Farm Property Tax Protection Act" to amend the Code of West Virginia by adding a new article that aims to protect working farms from ad valorem taxes. Specifically, the bill exempts the first 100 acres of a working farm from all state, county, and municipal property taxes, while ensuring that any additional acreage remains eligible for existing agricultural valuation programs and is not reassessed based on speculative or non-agricultural use. The exemption is designed to apply per parcel rather than per owner to prevent potential manipulation of the system.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions to safeguard working farms from reassessment based on nearby development or changes in zoning and utility infrastructure not initiated by the landowner. It prohibits counties and municipalities from imposing retaliatory fees or assessments against farms claiming the exemption. A clawback feature is also established, which allows property taxes to resume if the land ceases agricultural production or is converted to non-agricultural use, without imposing retroactive penalties. The legislation emphasizes the importance of preserving farmland and minimizing the demand on public services, while also stating that no new taxes or fees will be created to offset the exemption.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 11-3A-1, 11-3A-2, 11-3A-3, 11-3A-4, 11-3A-5, 11-3A-6, 11-3A-7