Florida’s Growing Marijuana Industry Praises Ben Albritton’s Agritourism Bill As It Passes Senate Panel
The bill clears up language regarding how lands used for agritourism are taxed
Florida’s burgeoning marijuana industry was alight with joy Thursday as Sen. Ben Albritton‘s agritourism bill cleared its final committee meeting before a full Senate vote.
The bill (SB 1186) clears up language regarding how lands used for agritourism are taxed. Currently, agricultural lands used for a “bona fide” purpose are taxed at a lower “assessed” value than other properties, which are taxed based on their “just” value, the land’s highest value. The lower tax rate serves as an incentive for farmers to keep agricultural land instead of turning more of a profit by selling the same land for a different use, like retail or building condos.
Agritourism, or the practice of educating the public by using agricultural land for tourism opportunities, is a growing business across Florida and the country. Adding agritourism experiences to lands can help supplement revenue on a struggling farm. But with additional uses on the land, there could be a loophole allowing a property appraiser to reclassify the land, as agritourism doesn’t necessarily count as “bona fide agricultural activity.”
To Read The Rest Of This Article On Florida Politics, Click Here
