1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2701 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 71
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Natalie M. Blais and Hannah Kane
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying
proposal for constitutional amendment:
Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to agricultural and horticultural
lands.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin1/16/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/22/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/25/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/25/2025Steven Ultrino33rd Middlesex1/25/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/6/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/6/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/6/2025Rodney M. Elliott16th Middlesex2/6/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/13/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025Kimberly N. Ferguson1st Worcester3/3/2025Bruce E. TarrFirst Essex and Middlesex3/3/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2701 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 71
By Representatives Blais of Deerfield and Kane of Shrewsbury, a petition (accompanied by
proposal for constitutional amendment, House, No. 71) of Natalie M. Blais, Hannah Kane and
others for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to agricultural and horticultural
lands. Revenue.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to agricultural and horticultural
lands.
A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in
joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the
following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if
similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the
state election next following]:
ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
1 Article XCIX of the Amendments to the Constitution is hereby annulled, and the
2following is adopted in place thereof:-
3 Article XCIX. Full power and authority are hereby given and granted to the general court
4to prescribe, for the purpose of developing and conserving agricultural or horticultural lands, that
5such lands shall be valued, for the purpose of taxation, according to their agricultural or
6horticultural uses; provided, that the parcel has been actively devoted to agricultural or
7horticultural uses for the 2 years preceding the tax year; and provided further, that no law shall 2 of 2
8be passed that requires a parcel of land to be greater than 5 acres in area to be valued at less than
9fair market value under this article.