PRINTER'S NO. 628
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
685
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, MADDEN, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, KINKEAD AND
GUENST, MARCH 23, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MARCH 23, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 19, 1974 (P.L.973, No.319),
entitled "An act prescribing the procedure under which an
owner may have land devoted to agricultural use, agricultural
reserve use, or forest reserve use, valued for tax purposes
at the value it has for such uses, and providing for
reassessment and certain interest payments when such land is
applied to other uses and making editorial changes," further
providing for applications for preferential assessments.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4(c) of the act of December 19, 1974
(P.L.973, No.319), known as the Pennsylvania Farmland and Forest
Land Assessment Act of 1974, is amended to read:
Section 4. Applications for Preferential Assessments.--* * *
(c) There shall be uniform application forms for
preferential assessment in all counties. Such application forms
shall be developed by the department. In addition to the
information which the department shall deem appropriate, the
following [statement] sentences shall be included:
"The applicant for preferential assessment hereby agrees, if
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his application is approved for preferential assessment, to
submit thirty days' notice to the county assessor of a proposed
change in use of the land, a change in ownership of a portion of
the land or of any type of division or conveyance of the land.
The applicant for preferential assessment hereby acknowledges
that, if his application is approved for preferential
assessment, roll-back taxes under section 5.1 of the act may be
due for a change in use of the land, a change in ownership of
any portion of the land, or any type of division or conveyance
of the land."
"As may be required under the act of June 22, 1937 (P.L.1987,
No.394), known as The Clean Streams Law, or 25 Pa. Code Ch. 102
(relating to erosion and sediment control), have you submitted a
conservation plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture?
If yes, include the conservation plan with the application. If a
required conservation plan is not applicable to this property,
explain. If no, you are not eligible to apply for preferential
assessment until such time as the conservation plan is
completed."
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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