[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6317041,"mediaKeyId","2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647","parentId",2375084,"title","Burt introduces bill to loosen current‑use eligibility and lower land‑use change tax","audioSeconds",157,"startMs",4488000,"endMs",4645000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647&start=4488&end=4645","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647/thumbnail_4488000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6317041/Vermont/Burt-introduces-bill-to-loosen-currentuse-eligibility-and-lower-landuse-change-tax","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317041-50503d0ad27af2a4baea6843cbafb9b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147095&Signature=bKo2Fgdn71hVatjSYPpVNiOcc11R20u0CkaH0wUOq6KUElP9mpLHWppWPJgDovVqtJwA3Q~rBqprYpXhSfgbjmwE191DrNa6bnsgluw7iHyWReVrQAevXE51REgJXBhqWwbaZFctHZQu-6gzXRiV-QECT494TDw2C6wgTbuD7o45~mW~7P5UAPy7eaZBTBR5ONFldsF0vCGBZ5UqDJyeKqsozSo6H3i7O57yxh~bU4bUbMPeidAB62Yrfj~0BHUbLuqyTyiu0i9Q~02oKjN9EuxJMF0lbeM9zdzTGA5U7QcoLX-5OEmk0B7lX2UjQffJ8I-fgjUsw~cYcJDgPj-vuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-22T11:50:20.41Z","article","Representative Greg Burt introduced H.273 to amend current-use eligibility and the land‑use change tax. Burt said the bill lowers the income test for agricultural enrollment to 25% of a farmer’s annual gross income (from a 50% threshold), adds language to include equine operations that earn at least 25% of a farmer’s income, and reduces the land‑use change tax from 10% to 6% of full fair‑market value when a parcel leaves current use.

Burt said the change is intended to reflect the contemporary farm economy, where many household incomes include significant off‑farm work and smaller-scale vegetable and specialty producers may not meet a 50% income test. He also said a lower land‑use change tax would reduce the cost to new farmers or homesteaders who need to develop a small portion of a parcel for housing or farm facilities, and could incentivize transactions that increase housing availability in rural areas.

Committee members asked about acreage minimums, smaller-scale vegetable farms and processing facilities, and whether forestry enrollments would be affected. Burt and questioners noted existing statutory provisions (for example, provisions that allow enrollment at smaller acreage where on‑farm processing or sales meet monetary thresholds) and said the committee could seek JFO revenue estimates before advancing the bill.

Ending: Burt asked staff to help clarify acreage and income‑threshold interactions for the committee; the bill was introduced and will be further considered by the committee with additional data requests, including potential JFO analyses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture – 2025-02-21 – 10:30AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Greg Burt introduced H.273 to lower the farm-income threshold for use‑value appraisal eligibility from 50% to 25%, include certain equine income, and reduce the land‑use change tax rate from 10% to 6% of fair-market value.","taxTitle","Agriculture, Food Resiliency, & Forestry, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36721,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6317046,"Masland introduces bill to reduce current‑use benefit for posted parcels",239,3650000,3889000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647&start=3650&end=3889","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647/thumbnail_3650000.jpg","/articles/6317046/Vermont/Masland-introduces-bill-to-reduce-currentuse-benefit-for-posted-parcels","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317046-7fff163e694356d1a1e4ee44e2d7e8c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147095&Signature=npwqtbLm87p0j8aSfXR8v1pTXxHF~vlXFKBPxMKRlUvCAqxThi8MbkludXdlnjRzRr~2Kwvu3zp34x2nkdZY9bqSPuJafv3hUWFkvfKoUGRfwktIaFAIBAoYhGsXO~bR8dMHBYGS56I4XrqonQbdc2rCVHuHow09CbeNUqfspDwfjX3W-V-3qJ062jj6SdxzJkXdxIZXwQQtpkQZSTM0M9wLin2NSbHFHAqQebYd2bjhsOc2z~JuP9YZcUs8ZP1Stz4C9rYxvpVsycpCwUaCTY~meFUoKkxog-KF05c7nn4A7VIjKvUl-zk1TzOOCfwk55L7bZ1Gnl-~IMAEmoqgXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Jim Masland introduced H.291 and described it as a targeted change to the state’s use-value appraisal program that would reduce the financial benefit for owners who post current‑use land and exclude public recreational access.

Masland said his bill is modeled on a New Hampshire approach and is intended to address owners who enroll acreage in current use but then close the land to public hunting, fishing or other recreation. \"If you want the full benefit, then you can open it for hunting or fishing,\" Masland said, explaining the proposal would reduce the net current‑use value by 25% for posted parcels.

Masland emphasized he supports current use generally and that the proposal is intended to balance taxpayer subsidy with public access: \"My initiative is not meant to make things overly complicated, but to take advantage of what we're capable of doing,\" he told the committee. He said the change would not eliminate current use but would create a reduced benefit when owners deny customary public recreational access.

Committee members discussed nuances, including seasonal or limited closures (for example, closures to protect nesting peregrine falcons or to restrict access during mud season). Several legislators suggested the policy could be prorated for short closures or contain carve-outs for seasonal conservation or safety-related restrictions. Representative Charlie Kimball described a separate approach used in New Hampshire that offers a recreational discount (a carrot) tied to allowing public recreation rather than only penalizing posting.

Ending: Masland said the committee could refine details, including prorating for brief or conservation-related closures. The bill was introduced for committee consideration; no vote occurred during the hearing.","Representative Jim Masland introduced legislation (H.291) that would reduce the use-value appraisal benefit by 25% for parcels enrolled in current use that are posted to exclude public recreational access; sponsors framed it as aligning tax benefits with public access.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6317051,"Forest, Parks and Recreation presents $54.8 million budget with rising federal grants and operating costs",1065,1899000,2964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647&start=1899&end=2964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647/thumbnail_1899000.jpg","/articles/6317051/Vermont/Forest-Parks-and-Recreation-presents-548-million-budget-with-rising-federal-grants-and-operating-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317051-53ce6e6d5c15a5a00befb3c055f3bcea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147095&Signature=agPOg1u5O535Paflxtl~GPBECoRQE7ZD-qpirwOs1QDZjSeYTY0u9x-Doz6s9kuCR1vEYXVM8vA4A3J3VHx7Z5CCaRAq~yZKWbSPmt2kvI1fS6Ix7GmPb01fqPNh29eKCwOhXVqOroFDFuBpQ7y0~9PFZoy5nhMLQvgjjkWtO1MPS8AhiJIV8jTWqUK5Y2QwHB2y2IaCMsKbmXHa87BZfrHK~-MqUzX4ZO4fK06HTqf2j-40aPHvjr1YgGwkQPn-Fq~7uD0ApJv-jEwKbVgQT7Sv4jq~jg2V180BoErpbfcCRwtG8rGlOfbQIbfiu1Rk8zdNfh4eypdhRYgEpxBHww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Danielle Fitsco, commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), and Ansley Bloomer, the department’s finance and administration director, presented the agency’s budget overview and answered legislators’ questions.

Fitsco said the department’s proposed budget is about $54.8 million overall, \"which is an increase of about 7%.\" She told the committee the increase largely reflects salary and benefits pressures, higher operational costs for state parks and additional federal funds for land acquisition and resilience projects.

Bloomer explained that roughly one-third of FPR’s budget comes from federal sources, including the U.S. Forest Service, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Federal Highway Administration recreation trails funds, the Northern Border Regional Commission, ARPA and FEMA flood recovery grants. Bloomer said FPR currently has a federal portfolio of nearly $50,000,000 in awards, of which roughly $38,000,000 remains unexpended across multi-year projects.

The presentation highlighted that state parks account for about $19,200,000—roughly 35% of the department’s budget—and that lands administration and recreation pass-throughs account for a large share of land-acquisition and municipal grant activity. Fitsco noted the department is managing 12–15 potential land acquisitions and that many of the acquisitions use a mix of federal funds and state matching funds.

Committee members raised questions about operating pressures: rising waste removal costs at parks, firewood and ice sales, visitor counts that have approached about 1 million annually, and the department’s capacity to absorb budget pressures due to constrained operating funds. Fitsco said staff capacity is limited and that the agency is pursuing efficiency improvements, including a review of land-acquisition procedures and district stewardship planning.

The department also flagged federal uncertainty: recent cancellations and 90-day pauses of some Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)‑related awards at the national level have affected expected community grants, including canceled urban-forestry grants the Arbor Day Foundation had planned to pass through to Vermont communities.

Ending: Fitsco offered to return for follow-up questions; legislators requested additional breakdowns of general‑fund exposure across program areas and asked the department to notify the committee if federal awards were at risk of cancellation.","Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation officials briefed the committee on a roughly $54.8 million FY2026 request, driven by federal grants for land acquisition and resilience work and rising operating costs for state parks and staffing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6317056,"Working Lands coalition asks legislature to raise enterprise fund to $3 million",355,121000,476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647&start=121&end=476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375084-528cfd730bc7565811edbbc6c0452647/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6317056/Vermont/Working-Lands-coalition-asks-legislature-to-raise-enterprise-fund-to-3-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317056-c22a01482761e702ae0a9d1f775d0a97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147095&Signature=MUx1ahC41WOnr9XeeU-WHCLtMybmaUq16h05Olqz0PhgQvQWU31doiwNFEdtQgZFG~HhxhywkwF6t2f0rO2iOWqUZhusMrNze4hBmLjLMwHByfB8fa70-A-m4C6kVvu5aoxqMv-fNT1ZST3yGT~8RUTwOI~nwRt4-sMU1S3Tt1cnNJfQQIp9yb6ynfEi7U~U~Wcd6WjiauXzxVkvgmTOMU7D3AZQfkOzyWuU~lahgh2i68BbCL6JUBgsQcRAfBLsxkNqieIE9VLXyNMFz0XqVRxNd7bJFX9FEGw5g4tmxg673tiYLZuTABgRgWdrk3nnsKWAdakoHVCyVxwgGMPdaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liz Smith, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, told the committee she and the Working Lands Coalition are asking the legislature to appropriate $3,000,000 to the Working Lands Enterprise Fund for fiscal 2026.

The request would raise base support from the $1,000,000 included in the governor’s recommended budget to $3,000,000. \"What we're here to request for the budget is an appropriation of $3,000,000 to the enterprise fund for FY 2026,\" Smith said. She said the 2024 application pool exceeded $16,000,000 while only $3,000,000 was available for awards.

The request matters because the fund supports small farm and forest businesses across Vermont, proponents said. \"These grants have helped Vermonters start, expand, and pivot their businesses,\" Smith said, adding that the program supports local economies and resilient working lands that contribute to climate and water-quality goals.

Ellen Kaylor of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, a member of the Working Lands Coalition, described how the fund has been used and why consistent funding matters. She said the program serves a wide range of business stages, from micro-startups to larger projects that require six-figure investments. \"If we could get to $3,000,000 or $5,000,000 every year in base funding for this program, then forest and farm and food businesses would just be able to count on that,\" Kaylor said. She also described prior one-time ARPA allocations that temporarily boosted the fund to $3,000,000 in fiscal 2024.

Committee members asked for history and clarifications. One representative asked whether the extra $2,000,000 that produced $3,000,000 in 2024 was recurring; Kaylor explained that $2,000,000 had been one-time ARPA allocations spread across prior years, and the governor's base for the current fiscal year is $1,000,000. Committee members discussed whether a one-time top-up or an increase in base funding would be feasible given revenue forecasts.

Kaylor and Smith discussed program design, including a small-grants pilot funded in prior years that awarded roughly $150,000 to help smaller farms transition out of dairy. Kaylor recommended keeping a small-grants focus inside the existing Working Lands Enterprise Fund rather than creating a separate program, arguing that the board and staff have the review capacity and statewide allocation experience to manage a range of grant sizes.

Proponents asked the committee to coordinate with the House Commerce Committee and other lawmakers who have historically supported joint funding for the program. The two witnesses said program and board review processes help make the fund an effective lever for private lending by providing grant equity that allows businesses to qualify for loans.

Ending: The committee did not vote on a funding change during this hearing; members said they would weigh the request against revenue forecasts and other budget priorities. Smith and Kaylor said they would provide written materials to committee members and follow up with staff if the committee requested more data.","Representatives of the Working Lands Coalition urged the committee to increase base funding for the Working Lands Enterprise Fund from $1 million to $3 million for fiscal 2026, citing heavy demand and a $16 million request pool in 2024.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Burt introduces bill to loosen current‑use eligibility and lower land‑use change tax

Masland introduces bill to reduce current‑use benefit for posted parcels

Forest, Parks and Recreation presents $54.8 million budget with rising federal grants and operating costs

Working Lands coalition asks legislature to raise enterprise fund to $3 million