Senator Steve Drazkowski’s bill to officially recognize floriculture as an agricultural product under Minnesota law received its first hearing on April 3 in the Senate Taxes Committee.
The bill, Senate File 2626, aims to make small flower farms like Bleed Heart Floral near Mazeppa eligible for agricultural classification, bringing much-needed tax relief and regulatory clarity to a growing number of Minnesota flower farmers.
“This is about fairness,” Senator Drazkowski said. “Flower farmers are working the land, generating the income their families need to survive, and supporting our local economies. They’re farmers in every sense of the word, and the law should reflect that.”
At the heart of the bill is Wabasha County resident Allie Kuppenbender, who runs Bleed Heart Floral with her husband on just under 14 acres. The Kuppenbenders grow cut flowers for wholesale, retail subscriptions, and events, bringing in over $50,000 per acre last season. But because flowers aren’t specifically named in state law as an agricultural product, their land is taxed as residential, leading to higher property taxes and steep permitting costs for even basic farm structures.
“We may be small, but there is serious interest in local flowers, with demand often outpacing supply,” Ms. Kuppenbender testified in committee. “This is not a hobby or a backyard garden. It is my family’s main source of income. That being said, margins are tight. There are high labor costs associated with this style of farming, and we’ve been actively investing our profits into building our farm’s infrastructure. This change would make a big difference for myself, my family, and other flower farmers.”
The difference in classification doesn’t just affect property taxes. Without ag status, their unheated hoop houses, which are used to extend the growing season, require permits and inspections under commercial building codes — even though they’re lightweight, temporary structures. Ms. Kuppenbender said they’ve paid thousands in unnecessary fees simply because the state doesn’t count their flowers as a crop.
The bill has bipartisan backing and support from the Minnesota Farmers Union. It also reflects broader efforts to modernize how Minnesota defines farming, particularly for small, diversified, or nontraditional farms that don’t grow corn or soybeans.
Senator Drazkowski and co-author Senator Aric Putnam are working on additional language to ensure farms under 15 acres, like the Kuppenbenders’, can qualify — especially when they demonstrate real production and profit.
The bill was laid over and will be considered for a larger tax bill later in session. Should it become law, SF 2626 would take effect for taxes payable in 2027.