Bill > H754

This bill amends Section 23 of Chapter 20 of the General Laws in Massachusetts to (1) change the maximum duration of agricultural preservation restrictions from 5 years to at least 1 year, (2) allow the Department of Agricultural Resources to approve a 1-year trial period to evaluate proposals for non-agricultural activities on restricted land, and (3) provide a right of appeal for landowners subject to an agricultural preservation restriction who are aggrieved by the Department's decisions related to special permits, including renewal, revocation, or amendment of such permits. The goal of these changes is to support farm diversification and sustainability by providing more flexibility in the use of agricultural preservation lands.