4-30-13
GREENBELT ACT OF 2013 UNANIMOUSLY PASSES FLORIDA SENATE
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Florida Senate passed the 2013 Greenbelt Act (HB1193/SB1200) with a unanimous and bipartisan vote, and the bill is now headed to the Governor. Filed by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) and Representative Halsey Beshears (R-Monticello), this legislation is a victory for Florida’s agricultural community, as it simplifies the classification of agricultural lands.
“This legislation is a win for our farmers and agricultural landowners,” said Senator Simpson, “with these changes to Florida law, more landowners will be able to retain the agricultural classification on their property.”
Under the current law, the greenbelt assessment can be removed when:
*The landowner changes the zoning of the land, even if its use remains agricultural;
*Land classified as agricultural is surrounded by development and the county commission determines that it
acts as a deterrent to further development;
*and Agricultural land is sold and the purchase price of land is three or more times the agricultural assessment.
Both SB 1200 and HB 1193 would remove each of these three provisions, making the only cause for removal of an agricultural assessment to be that it is no longer being used for an agricultural use.
These bills will also remove the ability of a value adjustment board to review the classifications made by the property appraiser unless the landowner requests. | 
