Below is a summary of recent agritourism legislation by state. Each listing provides a link to the legislative text. Email important additions here.
AR HB 1847: TO PROVIDE FOR ARKANSAS AGRITOURISM SIGNS AT STATE WELCOME CENTERS AND TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS THROUGH THE ARKANSAS WINE COUNTRY TRAILS PROGRAM. Recommended for study in the Interim by Joint Interim Committee on AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- HOUSE – 03/29/2017.
CO SJR 23: Colorado Agriculture Day. Concerning the designation of March 22, 2017, as ‘Colorado Agriculture Day’. Signed by the Speaker of the House – 03/24/2017.
DE HB 129: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 9 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRITOURISM. The intent of this act is to promote agritourism activities within this State by broadly defining what constitutes agritourism. Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House – 04/06/2017.
FL HB 9: Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation. Authorizing the corporation to enter into an agreement with the Department of Economic Opportunity for certain purposes and to use certain funds; creating the Targeted Marketing Assistance Program to enhance the tourism business marketing of small, minority, rural, and agritourism businesses in the state. Received -SJ 279 – 03/30/2017.
FL (2017) HB 325: Fire Safety. Provides that installation & maintenance of automatic fire sprinkler system in specified nonresidential farm buildings is not required.
GA (2017-2018) HR 635: Georgia Grown Trail. Dedicate Georgia Grown Trail: 1 (U.S. Highway 1); and for other purposes. House Second Readers – 03/20/2017.
KS HB 2237: Committee on Taxation. Concerning taxation; relating to income tax, rates, determination of income, tax credits; motor fuels tax, rates, trip permits, distribution; sales and compensating use tax, food (more).
KY HB 228: AN ACT relating to agricultural buildings and declaring an emergency. Amend KRS 227.300 to prohibit the commissioner of Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction from requiring exempt buildings used for agritourism and previously used for agricultural purposes to install fire protection sprinkler system, create a new section of KRS Chapter 198B to prohibit any local government or special purpose governmental entity from modifying the state building code to require fire protection sprinkler systems in buildings used for agritourism activities and previously used for agricultural purposes; EMERGENCY. WITHDRAWN – 02/24/2017.
KY (2017) HB 360: AN ACT relating to agritourism. Amend KRS 100.111 to expand the definition of “agricultural use” to include at least five acres devoted to agritourism; redefine “agritourism activity” and define “inherent risks of agritourism activity”; amend KRS 219.081 to make a technical correction. Signed by Governor (Acts, ch. 185) – 04/11/2017.
MA HB 2715: An Act establishing an agricultural tourism study commission. Concurred in committee referral – 03/08/2017.
MD HB 1547: Public Safety – Agritourism – Permit Exemption. Adding Cecil County to the list of counties that exempt agricultural buildings engaged in agritourism from a specified permit requirement; and providing that no more than 200 people at one time be allowed to occupy a building engaged in agritourism in Cecil County under specified circumstances. First Reading House Rules and Executive Nominations – 02/15/2017.
MD (2017) SB 817: Public Safety – Agritourism – Permit Exemption. Adding Cecil County and Garrett County to the list of counties that exempt agricultural buildings engaged in agritourism from a specified permit requirement; providing that no more than 200 people at one time be allowed to occupy a building engaged in agritourism; and requiring that the total width of means of egress meets or exceeds a specified standard that applies to egress components other than stairways in a building without a sprinkler system in Cecil County and Garrett County. Passed Enrolled – 04/10/2017.
ME LD 835: An Act To Promote Small Diversified Farms and Small Food Producers. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY in concurrence – 03/07/2017.
MT HB 342: Revise business laws related to liability and agritourism. A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ADDING AGRITOURISM TO THE LIST OF MONTANA RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS ASSUME THE LIABILITY FOR THE INHERENT RISKS OF THOSE ACTIVITIES; AMENDING SECTION 27-1-752, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.” Chapter Number Assigned – 03/31/2017.
MT (2017) SJ 24: Interim study of agritourism. A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRITOURISM IN MONTANA; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 66TH LEGISLATURE. (H) Motion to Reconsider Failed – 04/25/2017.
NH SB 169: Relative to the definition of agritourism. S: Rereferred to Committee, MA, VV; 02/23/2017; SJ 7 – 02/23/2017.
NJ A 3283: Implements reporting requirements for agricultural tourism pilot program; creates task force. Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee – 06/16/2016.
NJ (2016-2017) A 3538: Requires Division of Travel and Tourism to establish Internet webpage promoting and advertising ecological and agricultural tourist attractions on division’s website. Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee – 04/04/2016.
NJ (2016-2017) A 4416: Provides limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. Introduced, Referred to Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee – 12/15/2016.
NJ (2016-2017) S 2893: Provides limited civil liability immunity to farmers hosting agritourism activities. Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee – 01/09/2017.
NM HB 434: AGRITOURISM LIMITED LIABILITY. RELATING TO CIVIL LIABILITY; PROVIDING FOR LIMITED LIABILITY IN AGRITOURISM ACTIVITIES. DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted-House Judiciary Committee – 02/21/2017.
OH (2017-2018) HB 175: Allow residence owners to keep small livestock on property. To amend sections 303.21 and 519.21 and to enact section 901.60 of the Revised Code to allow an owner of residential property to keep, harbor, breed, or maintain small livestock on the property, and to prohibit zoning authorities from regulating certain agricultural activities conducted on residential property for noncommercial purposes. H Introduced – 04/05/2017.
OK HB 1224: Agriculture; creating the Agricultural Land for Recreation Liability Limitation Act; effective date. Second Reading referred to Judiciary – 03/27/2017.
OK (2017-2018) HB 1292: Agriculture; eliminating requirement that agritourism professionals register with the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; effective date. Second Reading referred to Rules – 02/07/2017.
OK (2017-2018) SB 616: Agritourism; expanding agritourism professionals with limited liability. Effective date. CR; Do Pass Agriculture and Rural Development Committee – 04/04/2017.
SD HB 1068: Revise certain provisions concerning landowner liability for certain injuries suffered. Signed by the Governor on March 6, 2017 H.J. 682 – 03/07/2017
TN HB 661: Alcoholic Beverages – As introduced, authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption at a location in Davidson County. – Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 4. Comp. SB subst. – 04/17/2017
TN (2017-2018) SB 848: Alcoholic Beverages – As introduced, authorizes the sale of alcoholic beverages for on premises consumption at a location in Davidson County. – Amends TCA Title 57, Chapter 4. Signed by Governor. – 04/28/2017.
VA HB 114: Agritourism; notice posted on signs to read “ATTENTION” rather than “WARNING” at locations. Warning notice at agritourism location. Provides the operators of agritourism locations with the option of using the terms “WARNING” or “ATTENTION” on signage or contracts that indicate the operator’s immunity from liability in the case of injury or death while at the facility. If such notice is not provided, the operator cannot invoke the immunity privilege. Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0166) – 03/01/2016.
VA (2016-2017) HB 619: Home-produced or farm-produced food products; exempts certain foods from Board of ACS regulations. Exempts food products and food made from milk processed or prepared in private homes or farms from Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulations, so long as (i) the sale is made directly to end consumers and (ii) the product is labeled with the producer’s name and address, the product’s ingredients, and a disclosure statement indicating the product is not for resale and is processed and prepared without state inspection. The bill also exempts private homes or farms that meet the same conditions from examinations conducted by the State Health Commissioner of establishments in which crustacea, finfish, and shellfish are handled. House: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources – 02/16/2016.
VA HB 2030: Food products; sale at farmers market, farm, or home. Food products; sale at farmers market, farm, or home. Exempts a producer of food, including milk, products made from milk, and poultry, from regulations of the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services so long as the sale of such food by the producer is made directly to the end consumer; the sale is conducted at a farmers market or through a home or farm; the food product contains no uninspected meat other than poultry; and the producer informs the end consumer that the food product is not certified, regulated, or inspected. House: Failed to report (defeated) in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (6-Y 15-N) – 02/01/2017.
VA (2016-2017) HJ 1061: Commending Oakland Heights Farm. House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1061ER) – 02/24/2017.
VA (2016-2017) SB 1491: Agritourism activity; definition to include rental of a single-family residence. Agritourism activity; residence rental. Defines “agritourism activity” to include the rental of a single-family residence for a period of at least one week. House: Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources – 02/21/2017.
WA HB 1508: Promoting student health and readiness through meal and nutrition programs. Third reading, passed; yeas, 81; nays, 11; absent, 0; excused, 6. – 05/02/2017.
WA (2017-2018) HB 2020: Concerning limitations on liability for agritourism activities. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. – 04/24/2017.
WA (2017-2018) SB 5808: Concerning agritourism. Delivered to Governor. – 04/21/2017.
WV SCR 61: Requesting study of economic, health and tourism impacts of biking, hiking and other forms of activity. S – To Rules – 04/06/2017.