State Rep. Bob Peterson | The Ohio House of Representatives
State Rep. Bob Peterson | The Ohio House of Representatives
Representatives David Thomas and Bob Peterson have introduced a bill in the Ohio House aimed at improving the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) property tax savings program. The proposed legislation incorporates input from the Ohio Farm Bureau, county auditors, and farmers to address issues of clarity, transparency, and consistency for agricultural landowners throughout the state.
According to Representative Thomas, “This legislation brings long needed uniformity and clarity for our farmers and gives them the transparency they need for their property taxes.”
The bill proposes several changes to the CAUV program. Farmers would no longer be required to submit annual renewal forms. It also codifies flexibility by allowing a fallow year for suspected crop conversion or during state-declared emergencies. The legislation clarifies that incidental uses of land—such as barns and driveways—do not disqualify properties from CAUV status. Additionally, it affirms the Ohio Supreme Court’s Maralgate decision regarding non-commercial land use.
County auditors would be given discretion to value wasteland and residential land below CAUV values. The process for qualifying multi-county farm operations under CAUV would be simplified by allowing properties in adjoining counties to qualify together.
To improve access and transparency, counties would be required to offer online CAUV applications and notify recipients when values change. Property tax bills will include a line showing "CAUV Credit Savings."
Representative Peterson stated, “CAUV is one of the most important farmland preservation tools in Ohio law. This bill full of commonsense updates that will help Ohio agriculture to continue to be Ohio’s largest industry.”
The bill has been introduced but has not yet received a number or committee assignment.
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