Bill > SB462

This bill establishes a new dedicated funding mechanism for agricultural land conservation in California by requiring the Controller to transfer $20 million annually from the General Fund to a newly created California Farmland Conservancy Program Funding Account, starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year. The bill provides context for this funding by highlighting that California loses 40,000 acres of agricultural land to development each year and recognizes the significant environmental and economic benefits of preserving farmland, including ecosystem protection, wildlife habitat maintenance, carbon sequestration, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The funding is specifically earmarked for agricultural conservation easements, which are legal agreements that permanently limit land development to preserve its agricultural use, and aligns with California's "30x30" goal of conserving 30 percent of the state's lands and coastal waters by 2030. The bill emphasizes the importance of supporting local governments in their efforts to preserve agricultural lands and provides a continuous appropriation mechanism to ensure consistent funding for these conservation efforts, with the explicit intention of protecting California's agricultural landscape, environment, food security, and natural resources.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB462