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NY S07603

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/29/2020

Primary Sponsor

Jen Metzger

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2019-2020 General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Amends agricultural assessment law to replace references to "oil, gas exploration or extraction activity" with "solar or wind development" in defining activities eligible for agricultural land exemptions.

  • Modifies provisions governing conversion of agriculturally-assessed land to specify that conveyance of solar or wind rights alone does not constitute conversion to a non-agricultural use.

  • Requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, in consultation with the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, to develop regulations within 180 days protecting prime and unique farmland while encouraging solar development on marginal soils and minimizing forest loss.

  • Exempts land converted for solar development from payments otherwise required when agricultural assessment land is converted to non-agricultural uses.

  • Takes effect 60 days after becoming law, with authority for regulatory implementation beginning immediately upon enactment.

Legislative Description

Provides that property receiving an agricultural assessment which is converted for purposes of oil or gas exploration shall be subject to payments equaling five times the taxes saved in the last year in which the land benefited from an agricultural assessment; exempts property converted for solar development from such payments.

Last Action

REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE

1/29/2020

Committee Referrals

Agriculture1/29/2020

Full Bill Text

No bill text available