HB 208 Utah House · 2025 General Session

Urban Farming Assessment Modifications

HB 208 removes the requirement for urban farmers to submit an annual renewal application to maintain their property tax assessment under Utah's Urban Farming Assessment Act. It directly affects landowners already enrolled in the program who previously had to reapply yearly. The bill allows county assessors to request additional information only in specific circumstances, while keeping the initial application process intact. It also makes minor technical updates to the law and applies retroactively to current assessments. This change simplifies administrative requirements for qualifying urban farms without altering tax rates or eligibility criteria.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed Mar 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 6 edits · Mar 20, 2025
MODERATE
This bill simplifies the urban farming assessment process by eliminating the annual renewal application requirement for land that was already assessed in the previous year, reducing administrative burden for qualifying landowners. The bill also clarifies when county assessors can request additional information and includes technical updates to align the statute with current practices.
Scope change
The bill applies to all land eligible for assessment under the Urban Farming Assessment Act in Utah counties, with retrospective effect starting January 1, 2025.
REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for landowners to submit an annual renewal application if their land was assessed in the prior year and eligibility information hasn't changed.

Added specific circumstances under which county assessors may request additional information from landowners, including when land is withdrawn from the program or when a new owner takes possession.

TIMELINE

Changed application submission deadlines from May 1 for new assessments to January 30 for renewal applications, though renewals are no longer required.

Established retrospective operation effective January 1, 2025, allowing the changes to apply to assessments for that year and beyond.

TECHNICAL

Made technical corrections to numbering, formatting, and cross-references throughout the statute to improve clarity and consistency.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that incomplete applications must be returned to owners with a 30-day window to complete them before being considered denied.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
38
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Mar 20, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Mar 4, 2025
Legislature · Passed
House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
legislature
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Feb 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate/ committee report favorable
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Committee
Senate/ to standing committee
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Introduced
Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
upper
Feb 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
House/ passed 3rd reading
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
House/ committee report favorable
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Comm - Favorable Recommendation
lower
Jan 24, 2025
Committee
House/ to standing committee
lower
Jan 21, 2025
Introduced
House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors