Bill > HB1520

This bill modifies existing tax credit provisions to support urban agriculture and grocery access in food desert areas. It establishes two key tax credit programs: one for urban farms and small-scale specialty crop farms, and another for grocery stores in food desert regions. For urban farms, the bill allows taxpayers to claim a tax credit equal to 50% of eligible expenses, with a cap of $5,000 through 2025 and increasing to $10,000 after 2026. Starting in 2026, an additional tax credit will be available for small-scale specialty crop farms in rural food deserts. The bill defines a food desert as an area with significant poverty or low median income where residents have limited access to full-service grocery stores. For grocery stores, the bill creates a tax credit of 50% of eligible expenses for establishing a new full-service grocery store in a food desert, with different investment thresholds based on the county's classification. The total annual tax credit authorization for urban farms and specialty crop farms is set at $3 million, while grocery store tax credits are capped at $22 million annually. Both programs include provisions to prevent misuse, such as requiring the agricultural land to be primarily used for public food production and mandating that grocery stores remain operational for at least ten consecutive years. The tax credits are non-refundable but can be carried forward for up to three years, and the programs are set to sunset in 2028 unless reauthorized.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1520&year=2025&code=R