LRB-3602/1
RCT:cjs:rs
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
December 18, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Nerison, A. Ott, Smith,
LeMahieu, Strachota, Ballweg, Marklein, Petryk and Vruwink,
cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Shilling and Leibham. Referred to
Agriculture.
AB574,1,2
1An Act to repeal 91.84 (1) (c); and
to amend 91.84 (1) (b) of the statutes;
2relating to: designation of agricultural enterprise areas.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection (DATCP) administers the Farmland Preservation Program, which
contains some of the requirements that a farmer must meet to qualify for the
farmland preservation tax credit. Under current law, one requirement for qualifying
for the farmland preservation tax credit is that the farmland must either be in a
farmland preservation zoning district under a certified farmland preservation
zoning ordinance or be covered by a farmland preservation agreement entered into
by DATCP and the farmer.
Current law prohibits DATCP from entering into a farmland preservation
agreement with a farmer unless the farmer's land is in an agricultural enterprise
area designated by DATCP. DATCP may not designate an area as an agricultural
enterprise area unless it receives a petition from local government units and at least
five farmers with land in the area. Current law prohibits DATCP from designating
agricultural enterprise areas with a combined area of more than 1,000,000 acres.
This bill increases the cap on the combined area of agricultural enterprise areas
from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 acres.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB574,1
1Section
1. 91.84 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB574,2,42
91.84
(1) (b)
Subject to par. (c), the
The department may designate agricultural
3enterprise areas with a combined area of not more than
1,000,000 2,000,000 acres
4of land.
AB574,2
5Section
2. 91.84 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
