summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Agricultural Land Conservation Act. Provides that, beginning on January 1, 2027, a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre shall be paid by the buyer or lessee of a transaction for any agricultural land that will be removed from production for the specific purpose of developing an industrial park, a commercial area, a single-family or multi-family dwelling or for being put to any other use that removes the agricultural land from production. Provides that the fee shall be collected by the Department of Agricultural. Provides for the creation of the Farmland Conversion Fee Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury. Provides that all Farmland Conversion Fees collected by the Department of Agriculture shall be contributed to the Fund. Further provides that moneys in the Fund may be exclusively used for the following purposes: (i) supporting education and programs that support healthy soil clean water, and climate-smart agricultural practices; (ii) supporting operations funding for soil and water conservation districts; (iii) covering costs associated with administering the Act; (iv) any other purposes that the Department of Agriculture determines are consistent with the purposes of the Act. Provides that, before expending moneys for any other purposes, the Department of Agriculture shall, subject to the availability of moneys in the Fund, ensure that during each State fiscal year, $10,000,000 is distributed to soil and water conservation districts, for the purpose of supporting their operations funding. Provides that $500,000 shall be distributed to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of collecting fees and administering the program created under the Act. Provides for penalties. Effective immediately.
AI Summary
This bill, the Agricultural Land Conservation Act, establishes a Farmland Conversion Fee of $275 per acre, effective January 1, 2027, which will be paid by the buyer or lessee when agricultural land is converted from production for purposes like industrial parks, commercial areas, or housing developments. The Department of Agriculture will collect these fees and deposit them into a newly created Farmland Conversion Fee Fund, a special state treasury fund. Moneys in this fund are designated for supporting soil and water conservation programs, funding soil and water conservation districts, covering administrative costs for the Act, and other purposes deemed consistent with the Act's goals by the Department of Agriculture, with a minimum of $10 million annually allocated to soil and water conservation districts and $500,000 to the Department for administration, with these amounts adjusted annually for inflation. The bill also outlines penalties for failing to pay the fee, which will be three times the amount due plus interest, and specifies certain exemptions from the fee, such as conversions for a farmer's personal use, agricultural infrastructure, state agency projects, high-voltage transmission systems, conservation practices, or renewable energy projects like wind and solar.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 02/06/2026)
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