SB 803

This bill provides that land is eligible for designation as managed forest land

(MFL) only if the land is owned by a resident of this state.

Under the MFL program administered by the Department of Natural

Resources, the owner of a parcel of land designated as MFL makes an annual acreage

share payment that is lower than, and in lieu of, the property taxes that normally

would be payable on the land. In exchange, the owner must comply with certain

forestry practices. Under the program, MFL is designated as either “open" or

“closed" to public access. MFL that is designated as “open" must be kept open for

hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing, and cross-country skiing. For MFL that is

designated as “closed," the owner must make an additional payment per acre.

The bill provides that a parcel of land is eligible for designation as MFL only

if the parcel is owned by a person whose principal dwelling is located in this state or

a business entity whose principal place of business is located in this state. The bill

defines “principal dwelling” to mean any dwelling that is used by the owner of the

dwelling as a primary residence on January 1 of the year in which the owner claims

exemption from property tax on a parcel of MFL. The bill defines “principal place of

business” to mean the primary location where a business entity conducts business

on January 1 of the year in which the business entity claims exemption from property

tax on a parcel of MFL.