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Connecticut

Connecticut Reform Proposed for Farmland Tax Valuations

A new proposal aims to stabilize farm taxes by improving how Connecticut determines the value of agricultural land.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Organic Food

Isometric editorial illustration of geometric farmland plots partitioned by stone boundary lines, representing Connecticut property tax assessment reform.
Connecticut state officials have introduced a new proposal to reform farmland tax valuation, aiming to ensure more predictable and stable assessments for agricultural landowners. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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State officials have released final recommendations to reform the farmland property tax valuation process following the cancellation of a previous revaluation effort. The changes aim to address extreme valuation spikes that plagued earlier attempts to update tax data.

Why it matters

The previous attempt at revaluation failed to account for varied land leases and produced dramatic tax increases, creating uncertainty for farmers. These reforms seek to ensure stable, predictable tax assessments for the local agricultural community by requiring better data collection.

A working group convened in 2026 to review the flawed farmland valuation process, which previously failed due to low survey response rates and incomplete data. The group unanimously voted to approve new recommendations after meeting more than 12 times to analyze current taxation gaps.

The players

Public Act 490 Working Group

An official body tasked by the state government to audit and reform the farmland property tax valuation process.

The details

The reform plan replaces outdated valuation methods with an annual reporting requirement for landowners, who must disclose lease details and land-use activities to town officials. By capturing accurate data on barter or free land leases, the system avoids the extreme valuation errors seen in the past. Additionally, any land value increases exceeding 20% will now trigger an automatic review by a specialized committee to ensure assessments remain grounded in reality.

Timeline

  1. 1960s: Original soil survey classifications were established.

  2. 2020: Current land values were set for agricultural taxation.

  3. January 2026: The Governor cancelled the state farmland revaluation.

  4. September 22, 2026: The working group released its final recommendations.

  5. January 2027: The state legislature is expected to consider the new proposals.

Health Landscape

This proposal marks an effort to modernize the application of Public Act 490, the cornerstone of state farmland taxation. It shifts away from the reliance on static 1960s soil classifications toward a more responsive, data-driven system of annual reporting.

Farmers and landowners should prepare for new annual requirements to report land-use data, which will be critical for determining future tax assessments. Those concerned about how these changes affect local farm viability should discuss the timeline for implementation with their town assessors.

The takeaway

Reliable data is essential for fair property valuation, and these reforms prioritize transparency in the taxation process. If you own farmland, watch for upcoming legislative announcements in January 2027 to see how reporting requirements may change for your property.

What happens next

The Connecticut legislature is expected to review these recommendations for potential adoption in January 2027.

Further reading

Learn more about the intersection of land management and local agriculture on our Organic Food page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The CT Mirror.

Live Poll

Should your state government simplify property tax valuation processes for local farmers?