Bill > HB0016

This bill establishes new regulations for utility-scale solar power plants, defining them as facilities with a generating capacity over one megawatt that convert sunlight into electricity for sale. It outlines conditions under which these plants will be ineligible for state incentives, such as tax credits or grants, if they are built on prime farmland, irrigated cropland, or certain types of non-irrigated cropland, with reduced incentives for other types of cropland and grazing land based on vegetation production, though conservation districts can recommend exemptions. The bill also mandates consultation with wildlife agencies regarding potential impacts and requires owners of new solar power plants to secure financial assurances for decommissioning and reclamation, including a detailed plan that must be approved by local authorities before construction begins. Furthermore, it specifies that before constructing a solar power plant, owners must obtain various local permits, including a conditional use permit, and submit site plans and a decommissioning plan for review. The bill also includes a severability clause, meaning if any part is found invalid, the rest will remain in effect, and it will become effective on May 6, 2026.