HCS HB 581 -- FARMLAND PROTECTION ACT (Ridgeway)

This substitute is to be known as the Farmland Protection Act.
The provisions of the act apply to tracts of real property
containing 10 or more contiguous acres, used as agricultural or
single family residential property or both, and not located in a
platted subdivision.

The purpose of the substitute is to protect agricultural,
horticultural, and forestry land; promote continued rural
economic viability; promote quality of life; promote continued
viability of those businesses dependent on providing materials,
equipment, and services to agriculture, horticulture, and
forestry; and protect farmland from negative impacts.

The substitute requires the state or any political subdivision
to hold sewer and water assessments in abeyance, without
interest, until improvements on property covered by the
substitute are connected to the sewer or water system.  Upon
connection to the sewer or water system, the owner is to pay an
amount equal to the proportionate charge for the number of
system lines connected to improvements on the property.

The provisions of the substitute do not apply to public water
supply districts, except that a public water supply district is
not to require payment from landowners whose property is crossed
to service another tract of land until the landowner requests
connection to the rural water supply district.

In Kansas City, the assessments on tracts of farmland otherwise
protected by the Farmland Protection Act are to be the
proportionate cost of water or sewer improvements, but the
portion of the assessment initially payable is not to exceed
$500 per acre and $10,000 for the tract.  The remaining portion
of the assessment is to be held in abeyance, without interest,
until the owner connects with the new improvements or until the
property is conveyed to a new owner who does not continue to
utilize the property for farming purposes.

Persons purchasing property located within one-half mile of
property used for agricultural purposes are to be given a notice
of that prior to the final sale.  The substitute specifies the
language of the notice.

The substitute also requires that property subject to the
Farmland Protection Act is not to be taken by any political
subdivision of the state by eminent domain except after an open
public hearing.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:44 am