Hahn Agriculture Bill Approved by State House

Legislation authored by state Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Nazareth) that would promote innovation in farming has been passed unanimously by the House.

The state Senate may now take up House Bill 1439, which is part of a package of agriculture bill.

“Agriculture is big business in Pennsylvania, which has more than 63,000 farms covering a bit more than 7.5 million acres,” said Hahn, who is a member of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. “Farmers, however, are not immune to economic difficulty, and my bill would save them money by exempting them from being penalized under current tax law.” 

Hahn’s legislation addresses the use of high tunnels, which are buildings similar to greenhouses. These portable structures are currently assessed as real estate and subject to building codes.

“My bill, along with House Bill 1438 (which passed unanimously), exempts them from assessment in all Pennsylvania counties,” Hahn added. “These buildings offer farmers tremendous energy and business benefits, and the agriculture industry should be commended for using this new technology.”

The third bill in the package, House Bill 1440, also passed without opposition and expands the definition of “agriculture building” to include high tunnels. This would exempt them from the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code.  

Questions about this and any other legislative issues should be directed to Hahn’s Nazareth office at (610) 746-2100.