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HB2104 • 2026

agricultural property; classification; inspection

HB2104 - agricultural property; classification; inspection

Agriculture Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Neal Carter
Last action
2026-03-24
Official status
Senate minority caucus
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly mention notifying owners about changes in agricultural classification or giving them the right to appeal decisions, though these are implied by existing statutes.

Agricultural Property Protection Act

This bill stops county assessors from inspecting or changing the classification of agricultural land for four years after a successful tax appeal, unless there's a change in use, ownership, property split, or new taxable improvement.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits county assessors from reclassifying or conducting on-site inspections of agricultural properties for four years if a property owner wins a tax appeal.
  • Allows county assessors to charge taxes on previously unreported improvements during the four-year period if they are classified as agricultural land.
  • Limits when a county assessor can reclassify or inspect agricultural properties after a successful appeal.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Property owners who have successfully appealed their agricultural property taxes.
  • County assessors responsible for classifying and inspecting agricultural land.

Terms To Know

Agricultural classification
The designation given to property used primarily for farming or ranching purposes, which may qualify it for lower taxes.
Tax appeal
A process where a property owner challenges the valuation or classification of their property by the county assessor.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if an unreported improvement is classified as non-agricultural during the four-year period.
  • It's unclear how this legislation will affect counties with established boards of equalization versus those without.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Plain English: VINCE PEREZ 2/6/2026 (602) 926-3848 ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff HB 2104: agricultural property; classification; inspection CARTER N FLOOR AMENDMENT 1.

  • VINCE PEREZ 2/6/2026 (602) 926-3848 ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FLOOR AMENDMENT EXPLANATION 57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session Majority Research Staff HB 2104: agricultural property; classification; inspection CARTER N FLOOR AMENDMENT 1.
  • Adds a taxable improvement made to a property to the list of exceptions that allow a county assessor to reclassify agricultural property or conduct an on- site inspection.
  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Carter N Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2104 ADDITIONAL COW CARTER N FLOOR AMENDMENT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Finance Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Finance Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2104 PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2104 (Reference to House engrossed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Section 42-12155, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended 2 to read: 3 42-12155.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Plain English: Fifty-seventh Legislature Finance Second Regular Session H.B.

  • Fifty-seventh Legislature Finance Second Regular Session H.B.
  • 2104 COMMITTEE ON FINANCE SENATE AMENDMENTS TO H.B.
  • 2104 (Reference to House engrossed bill) The bill as proposed to be amended is reprinted as follows: 1 Section 1.
  • Section 42-12155, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended 2 to read: 3 42-12155.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate minority caucus

  2. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate majority caucus

  3. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate second read

  4. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate Rules: PFC

  5. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate Finance: DPA

  6. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate first read

  7. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Transmitted to Senate

  8. 2026-02-24 House

    House third read passed

  9. 2026-02-18 House

    House amended committee of the whole

  10. 2026-02-18 House

    House passed

  11. 2026-01-29 House

    House committee of the whole

  12. 2026-01-27 House

    House minority caucus

  13. 2026-01-27 House

    House majority caucus

  14. 2026-01-26 House

    House consent calendar

  15. 2026-01-13 House

    House second read

  16. 2026-01-12 House

    House Rules: C&P

  17. 2026-01-12 House

    House Ways & Means: DP

  18. 2026-01-12 House

    House first read

Official Summary Text

HB2104 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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PASSED BY COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
H.B. 2104

agricultural
property; classifications; inspection

Purpose

Prohibits a county assessor from reclassifying or conducting an on-site
inspection of agricultural property for four years after a property owner
prevails in a property tax appeal, unless there is a change in use or ownership,
a property split or a taxable improvement and allows a county assessor, during
the four-year exemption period, to assess the applicable property tax on a
previously unreported taxable improvement if the county assessor classifies the
improvement as agricultural property.

Background

Statute requires each county assessor to conduct on-site inspections of
25 percent of agricultural properties each year, ensuring that every
agricultural property is reviewed and appraised at least once every four years.
If, during inspection, a property is found not to qualify for agricultural
property tax classification, the owner must be notified by certified mail of
the reason for reclassifying the property and include information for the
property owner to appeal the reclassification (A.R.S. ��
42-12158

and
42-12156
).

A county assessor must notify a property owner whether an agricultural
classification has been approved or disapproved by the time the assessor next
mails the property's notice of valuation. If the agricultural classification is
disapproved, the assessor must notify the owner of the reason for disapproval
within 120 days of the application and the owner may appeal the decision of the
assessor (
A.R.S.
� 42-12155
).

A person that
disagrees with the valuation or legal classification of the person's real
property may file a petition with the county assessor appealing the county
assessor's noticed valuation or recommended classification of the property. If
the county assessor denies a petition and if a county board of equalization has
been established in the county, the petitioner may appeal the assessor's
decision to the county board within 25 days after the assessor's decision was
mailed to the petitioner. In evaluating the petition, the county board must
either grant or refuse the request of the petitioner within 10 days after a
hearing on the petition has been held. If the county board of supervisors makes
any changes to valuations or legal classifications ordered by the county board,
the county board of supervisors must add up on the roll the entries of the
valuation of each description and class of property and the total valuations
and enter all totals on the tax roll. A property owner who is dissatisfied with
the valuation or classification of the property as determined by a county board
or a petitioner whose petition is denied by the county board may appeal
directly to the court within 60 days after the date of mailing of the decision
or by December 15, whichever is later. If the county board orders the valuation
of any property to be reduced, the county assessor or the Arizona Department of
Revenue may appeal the decision to court (
A.R.S. Title 42, Chapter 16,
Article 3
).

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Prohibits,
if a property owner prevails in a property tax appeal, a county assessor from
conducting an on-site inspection or reclassifying agricultural property for
four years after the appeal decision is rendered, unless one of the following
occurs:

a)

the property owner files a change in use notice;

b)

a split of the property;

c)

a change in ownership or lease of the property; or

d)

a
taxable improvement is made to the property.

2.

Allows
a county assessor, if the assessor classifies a previously unreported
improvement as agricultural property during the four-year exemption period, to
assess the applicable property tax on the improvement for the current tax year
and any prior year the improvement existed.

3.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Amendments
Adopted by Committee

1.

Allows
a county assessor, if the assessor classifies a previously unreported
improvement as agricultural property during the four-year exemption period, to
assess the applicable property tax on the improvement for the current tax year
and any prior year the improvement existed.

House Action
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Senate
Action

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Prepared by
Senate Research

March 17, 2026

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Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB2104 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

agricultural
property; classification; inspection

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2104

AN
ACT

amending section 42-12155, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to agricultural property.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section
1.
1. Section
42-12155, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
42-12155.

Notice of approval or disapproval; appeal

A. The county assessor shall notify the property
owner whether the assessor has approved or disapproved the agricultural
classification of the property on or before the date on which the assessor next
mails the owner the notice of valuation for the property.

B. If the assessor disapproved the agricultural
classification, the assessor shall notify the owner of the reason for
disapproval within one hundred twenty days of the application.

C. The owner may appeal the decision of the assessor
as prescribed by chapter 16, article 2, 5 or 6 of this title.

D. If the owner prevails in an appeal
under chapter 16, article 5 of this title, the county assessor may not
reclassify agricultural property or conduct an on-site inspection
pursuant to section 42-12158 for four years after the appeal decision is
rendered unless one of the following occurs:

1. The property owner files A change
in the use notice pursuant to section 42-12156, subsection A.

2. A split of the property.

3. A change in ownership or lease of
the property.

4. A taxable improvement is made to
the property.
END_STATUTE