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<section article="gtp" article_name="Tax - Property" number="9-253" title_number="9" title_name="Property Tax Credits and Property Tax Relief" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Statewide Optional">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Urban agricultural property” means real property that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>not assessed as agricultural land under § 8–209 of this article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>used for urban agricultural purposes.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Urban agricultural purposes” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>indoor and outdoor crop production activities, including the use of mulch or cover crops to ensure maximum productivity and minimize runoff and weed production, production of value–added agricultural products, beekeeping, raising livestock, composting, and hydroponics and other soilless or controlled–environment crop production methods;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>environmental mitigation activities, including stormwater abatement, pollinator habitat creation and maintenance, and groundwater protection;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>community development activities, including recreational activities, food donations, and food preparation and canning classes;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>economic development activities, including employment and training opportunities, and direct sales to restaurants and institutions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>produce stands used for the sale of produce raised on the premises; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>agricultural education and agritourism activities.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation may grant, by law, a tax credit against the county or municipal corporation property tax imposed on urban agricultural property.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a tax credit under this section shall be granted for 5 years.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>If the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation grants a tax credit under this section, the jurisdiction granting a tax credit shall evaluate the effectiveness of the credit after 3 years.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>If the jurisdiction granting the tax credit determines that the tax credit is ineffective in promoting urban agricultural purposes, the jurisdiction granting a tax credit may terminate the tax credit if the jurisdiction provides the public:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>notice of the termination of the credit at least 1 year in advance; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the opportunity for comment and appeal.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The jurisdiction granting a tax credit under this section may extend the tax credit for an additional 5 years.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Jurisdictions may prioritize renewals of the credit based on the specific priorities of the individual jurisdiction.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City or the governing body of a county or of a municipal corporation may provide, by law, for:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the amount of the tax credit under this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>additional eligibility criteria for the tax credit under this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>regulations and procedures for the application and uniform processing of requests for the tax credit; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>any other provision necessary to carry out the credit under this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
