HB 4153 defines Agri-tourism activity as promoting a farm operation.

Amended bill modifies farm store standards by defining additional terms, requiring farm stores to sell products grown by the operating farm, increasing allowable size and income thresholds, adjusting food service rules, and revising county siting authority. The amendment also restores farm stands as permitted uses on exclusive farm use land.

• Adds a definition for ‘farm unit’,
• Clarifies that eligibility to establish a farm store on EFU land requires the store to sell farm products produced by the operating farm.
• Increases total square footage limitations of permanently enclosed structures used for the farm store to 10,000 square feet
• Reduces farm income requirements from at least $40,000 to at least $10,000 in gross farm income in the preceding two years.
• Requires retail items to be sold from within a permanent enclosed structure.
• Authorizes farm stores to use temporary structures or mobile vending units in conjunction with an agri-tourism activity.
• Narrows limitations on the food and beverage services provided from those kitchen facilities.
• Removes from counties the prohibition on applying siting standards that unreasonably frustrate the siting and operation of farm stores.
• Restores farm stands as permitted uses on exclusive farm use land.

IN WAYS & MEANS WORK SESSION – CONTACT LEGISLATORS