A bill that cuts property taxes for farmers and prevents transfer taxes on the sale of houses, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, was signed into law by Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

In a release from Bjorkman’s office, they say the bill, Senate Bill 179, is intended to make homeownership more affordable and bolster food security by supporting local farmers.

Bjorkman says in the release that the move will prevent “additional costs” from being levied against homebuyers, “especially young and first-time homebuyers.”

The language about property taxes on farms originated in a separate bill but was integrated into S.B. 179. Per previous Clarion reporting, the legislation will require farmers to pay less in property taxes on farm buildings and land. It expands an existing tax break for farm structures and simplifies an application process for that break.

“We rely too much on food production from outside, this legislation support our food-producing farmers here on the Kenai Peninsula and across Alaska so that we can help increase local food production,” says Bjorkman in the release. “This law will reduce fixed costs for new farmers and protect farmers’ financial privacy by using one IRS Form instead of having to submit all of their personal financial information.”

The release says that the bill also revamps the property assessment process statewide based on requirements that already exist in the Kenai Peninsula Borough. The new requirements, it says, are to use “qualified assessors, published assessment standards, and transparent and impartial procedures for the assessments.”

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.