Two bills have been introduced to provide property tax exemptions for farmers markets. HB 1967, sponsored by Rep. Mike Steele (R–Chelan), and SB 5505, sponsored by Sen. Christine Rolfes (D–Bainbridge Island), would establish property tax exemptions for property used by nonprofits for farmers markets.

SB 5505 would reinstate an exemption for nonprofits if a portion of their property were used for a farmers market.

HB 1967 would establish an exemption if a church or nonprofit’s property were leased or used for a farmers market less than 53 days a year. The bill would also require the Department of Revenue to convene a work group to identify nonprofits that do not benefit from or experience administrative burdens from the current structure for nonprofit property tax exemptions by January 2023.

Dates to remember

SB 5505 is set for public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Tuesday, January 25 at 4 pm.

HB 1967 is scheduled for hearing in the House Finance Committee on Thursday, January 27 at 8 am.