The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
§ 31. Program established
The Agricultural Land Development Rights Acquisition Program is established within
the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and
Markets shall hire or contract with an agricultural land use planner to assist in
developing and implementing the program. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 63, eff. May 19, 1988; amended 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003.)
§ 32. Duties of the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets
(a) The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall develop by rule, with the advice
and consent of the Housing and Conservation Board:
(1) a program for selecting and recommending to the Housing and Conservation Board agricultural
land development rights suitable for acquisition by the State; and
(2) criteria to be used by the Board in reviewing the Secretary’s recommendations for
acquisition.
(b) The program and criteria shall be designed to ensure that, in a municipality with
an approved plan under 24 V.S.A. chapter 117, the Board only acquires agricultural
development rights to land designated or identified in a land evaluation and site
assessment system pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 4345a(5)(E) for agricultural use under that chapter. In a municipality without an approved plan,
these restrictions shall not apply.
(c) The program and criteria shall be designed to ensure that, in a municipality with
an approved plan under 24 V.S.A. chapter 117, the Board only acquires agricultural
development rights to land designated for agricultural use under that chapter. In
a municipality without an approved plan, these restrictions shall not apply.
(d) The Secretary shall report to the General Assembly not later than January 15, 1989
concerning the progress of the program. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 63, eff. May 19, 1988; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 46, eff. July 1, 2022.)
§ 33. Assessments
After acquisition of development rights by the State, the agricultural landowner shall
be taxed, under 32 V.S.A. chapter 123, upon the fair market value of the remaining
rights or interests to which title is retained. The Department of Taxes and the municipality
assessing the tax shall cooperate with the landowner in determining the fair market
value of the remaining rights or interests. (Added 1987, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 63, eff. May 19, 1988.)