Bill Summary: Senate Bill 615

• Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission must study unfair practices by fruit and vegetable handlers, property tax abatement for aging farm machinery, and agritourism activities on farms, with findings due March 1, 2018.

• Facilities storing renewable energy resources grown or produced on agricultural operations are exempt from Environmental Management Commission Rule 15A NCAC 02D .1806 until the Commission adopts permanent revised rules.

• Present-use value property tax classification now includes grazing fees for livestock and income from the sale of bees or bee products (other than honey) in calculating the $1,000 annual income requirement for agricultural land.

• Counties are prohibited from adopting zoning regulations governing swine farms; eliminated previous authority allowing counties to zone large-capacity swine farms with design capacity of 600,000 pounds or greater.

• Agritourism activities on farms are protected land uses; buildings or structures used for weddings, events, and farm demonstrations qualify as bona fide farm purposes if located on property with qualifying farmer tax exemption or enrolled in present-use value program.