Bill > H0608

This bill adds a new chapter to Idaho's state laws to establish an "Agricultural Protection Area Act." The key provisions of this bill are: 1. It allows counties to create agricultural protection areas where working farms, ranches, and forests are voluntarily designated for long-term protection (minimum 20 years) to preserve the economic and cultural benefits they provide to Idahoans. 2. It establishes an Agricultural Protection Area Commission in each county to review and make recommendations on applications to create or modify these areas. 3. It limits the ability of local governments to regulate agricultural activities or change the zoning within designated agricultural protection areas without the landowner's permission. 4. It provides legal protections against nuisance lawsuits for agricultural operations following generally recognized farming practices within these designated areas. 5. It restricts the use of eminent domain to condemn land being used for production agriculture within the designated agricultural protection areas, with limited exceptions. The bill aims to promote voluntary planning tools for working landowners and local governments to maintain and enhance the economic value of agricultural lands in Idaho, while respecting private property rights.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

State Affairs Committee (H)

https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2024/legislation/H0608/