Governor Signs Bill to Exempt High Tunnels from UCC

October 29, 2014

Governor Corbett signed into law HB 1440 which exempts high tunnels, and all other agricultural structures in which crops are grown, from the Uniform Construction code. With his signature on October 22, 2014, HB 1440 became Act 159 of 2014. The act takes effect immediately.

After being stalled in the Pennsylvania Senate for over a year, the bill gained new life after PLNA teamed up with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to convince senators that the bill was needed. HB 1440 was the third bill dealing with high tunnel issues. The first two bills exempted high tunnels from property tax assessments and were signed by the governor in December of 2013.

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Talks on High Tunnel Bills Progress

October 14, 2013
HARRISBURG - The four bills that are active in the General Assembly that would clarify that high tunnels are not subject to real estate taxes or the Uniform Construction Code may be moving again. The bills stalled in June over differences between the House and Senate versions of the bills... (more)

High Tunnel Bills Clear House Ag Committee Unanimously

June 14, 2013
HARRISBURG - A set of three bills written to clarify that high tunnels are not subject to real estate taxes, were reported out of the state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee by unanimous votes last Tuesday. The bills now move to the House floor, where committee chairman, John Maher (R - Allegheny) expects a vote by the full house this week... (more)

High Tunnel Bill Clears Senate 49-0

May 6, 2013
HARRISBURG - Senate Bill 638, which would exempt high tunnels or hoop houses from county or other local real estate taxes, passed the Senate April 30 with no dissenting votes, 49-0. The bill now moves to the House for consideration by that chamber... (more)

House Develops Version of High Tunnel Bills

April 5, 2013
HARRISBURG - Last week, Representative John Maher (R - Allegheny) directed his staff to develop a series of bills that would exempt high tunnels from real estate taxes, sales and use taxes and the Uniform Construction Code. Maher is the chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural affairs Committee... (more)

High Tunnel Legislation Broadens

March 6, 2013
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to clarify that high tunnels are temporary structures not subject to real estate taxes in Pennsylvania is being broadened to include exemption of the structures from the Uniform Construction Code and sales and use taxes... (more)

Counties Tax Hoop Houses as Real Property

February 6, 2013
HARRISBURG - A disturbing trend to tax hoop houses as real property seems to be gaining momentum among counties. PLNA member Fairview Evergreen Nurseries in Erie County found their tax assessment jump when they installed new hoop houses for their container operation... (more)