02/29/2024 01:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

             SB 161-TAX EXEMPTION FOR FARM USE LAND                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
2:14:30 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR   DUNBAR  reconvened   the   meeting   and  announced   the                                                               
consideration  of  SENATE  BILL  NO.  161  "An  Act  relating  to                                                               
municipal  taxation  of  farm  use land;  and  providing  for  an                                                               
effective date."                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DUNBAR  said that the  committee initially heard SB  161 on                                                               
January  30, 2024.  The intention  is  to adopt  a Community  and                                                               
Regional Affairs  committee substitute (CS), take  questions from                                                               
committee members,  and look  to the will  of the  committee. The                                                               
bill sponsor requested the CS  after stakeholders submitted input                                                               
on the bill.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:14:58 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR solicited a motion.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:15:00 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to adopt  the committee substitute (CS) for                                                               
SB 161, work order 33-LS0971\R, as the working document.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:15:11 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR objected  for purposes  of  discussion and  invited                                                               
Senator Bjorkman to present the summary of changes.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:15:25 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BJORKMAN, speaking as  sponsor, presented the explanation                                                               
of changes for the CS from SB 161 version S to R:                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
[Original punctuation provided.]                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
             SB 161 Tax Exemption for Farm Use Land                                                                             
            Explanation of Changes Ver. S to Ver. R                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
       Adds a new Section 1 amending AS 29.45.050(t) and                                                                        
     renumbers the other sections accordingly.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
     The  new  section  amends the  existing  provision  for                                                                    
     municipalities  to  partially   or  fully  exempt  farm                                                                    
     structures from local property  taxes. It adds farmland                                                                    
     to  the allowed  exemption,  expands  the exemption  to                                                                    
     include agricultural operations  that are not producing                                                                    
     food  for humans  or livestock,  updates the  financial                                                                    
     qualifications  for farms  to participate,  and expands                                                                    
     the allowed uses of farm structures.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
2:16:31 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  DUNBAR   removed  his  objection.  He   found  no  further                                                               
objection and CSSB 161 was adopted as the working document.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
2:16:59 PM                                                                                                                    
At ease.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:17:40 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  reconvened the  meeting and  solicited the  will of                                                               
the committee.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:17:54 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL  moved  to  report  CSSB  161,  work  order  33-                                                               
LS0971\R,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached zero fiscal note(s).                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
2:18:10 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR DUNBAR  found no objection  and CSSB 161(CRA)  was reported                                                               
from  the   Senate  Community   and  Regional   Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.