Her bill to cap assessments on agricultural land is among the high points of the state legislative session in Albany, according to State Sen. Patty Ritchie (R-Heuvelton).

“The Legislature adopted my bill to finally rein in runaway agriculture land tax assessments, and an innovative new plan to increase sales of locally grown foods, and the Senate advanced my ideas, like estate tax relief and Farm Savings Accounts, to help save family farms and encourage more young people to choose agriculture as a career,” Ritchie said in a statement at the end of the just-concluded 2013 session.

Among the other achievements she cites are:

• continued investment in programs designed to promote jobs by approving a third round of regional economic development grants

• the largest school aid package in four years, one that was weighted to rural and upstate schools

• inclusion in the state budget key elements from her “Grown in New York” plan, including restored funding for vital marketing and research programs from apples to dairy and maple.

She said tax rates on the middle class are the lowest in 60 years; the 2009 energy surcharge will be phased out; and a new plan will connect state prisons, hospitals and agencies directly with New York farmers to boost purchases of locally produced foods;

Gov. Cuomo’s “START UP-NY” plan, designed to attract new jobs by creating tax-free zones on SUNY campuses, was modified in its final form, Ritchie said, “to include solid anti-compete protections for existing businesses, increase local oversight and cap tax-exempt benefits.”

Ritchie’s 48th Senate District includes northwestern St. Lawrence County, and Jefferson and Oswego counties.