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• Introduced by Sen. John Gleason (D) on February 19, 2008, to revise the law that authorizes tax credits and exemptions from certain special assessments for owners of land meeting a specific “open space” definition who agree not to develop their land, so that it provides an exception allowing continued tax breaks if the land is converted to growing crops as biomass for energy production. “Open space” land includes and undeveloped historic sites, certain riverfront lands, and certain “environmental areas”.
  • Referred to the Senate Agriculture and Bioeconomy Committee on February 19, 2008.
    • Reported in the Senate on May 27, 2008, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on June 5, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that narrows the bills scope to only involve land planted in perennial crops (like switchgrass) used to make ethanol or other biofuels, rather than other crops including corn. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on June 5, 2008.
• Passed 30 to 8 in the Senate on June 10, 2008.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on June 10, 2008.