Bill > HR2773

This bill addresses conservation easements, which are voluntary legal agreements between landowners and the Secretary of the Interior that limit land use to protect conservation values. The bill restricts the Secretary from entering into new conservation easements longer than 30 years and provides significant new rights for landowners with existing easements. Specifically, for conservation easements that have been in effect for over 30 years or were established before 1977 without an official map, landowners can request renegotiation of the terms. Upon such a request, the Secretary must provide a detailed map of the easement, notify the landowner of its current fair market value, and then offer three options: renegotiate the easement to a 30-year term with a payment to the landowner based on the difference between current and original easement value, allow the landowner to buy back the entire easement or a portion of it at fair market value, or maintain the current terms. The bill also requires the Secretary to provide notice to landowners about their rights to request renegotiation, with specific timelines depending on the easement's age and establishment. Importantly, the bill excludes conservation easements with Indian Tribes and those related to utilities from these provisions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2773/all-info