Texas law gives farmers the ability to pay lower property taxes, known as agricultural valuation, because of the benefits their land provides to the community.

But county tax assessors routinely deny this agricultural valuation to small farmers. And when it comes to small farms raising fruits and vegetables, county tax assessors have actually testified to the Legislature that “truck farming isn’t agriculture.”

Do you think fruits and vegetables are part of agriculture? We do! The current situation makes it harder for new farmers to buy land, and raises the price of food from small farmers who have to pass the higher taxes on to their customers.

HB 3857 by Representative Thimesch would address this problem by specifying that fruits and vegetables are agriculture.  It also directs the Comptroller to bring together stakeholders to develop guidelines for when small farms, including organic and regenerative farms, should qualify for agricultural valuation.

Tell the Texas Legislature you want fair taxes for small farmers by submitting comments to support HB 3857.

Make sure you select HB 3857 by Representative Thimesch, relating to the eligibility of land for appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes as qualified open-space land.

The deadline to submit comments is next Monday, April 17, 2023 by 10 a.m.

For more information about the bill, read the fact sheet here…