Bill > H2692

This bill aims to increase public access to abandoned rights of way and conservation easements by allowing municipalities to levy real estate taxes on certain abandoned properties, particularly those owned by public utility companies that have not been operational for at least ten years, until those companies grant public access rights. It also enhances the powers of the Department of Conservation stewardship council to acquire easements for public utility rights of way, modifies requirements for conservation easements to prioritize those granting public recreational use, and establishes a conservation tax credit program offering a credit of 25 percent of the fair market value for qualified donations of land interests for conservation purposes, with a maximum credit of $500,000 per year that can be carried forward for five years. Additionally, land where an owner grants an easement for a public trail will be automatically considered recreational land for tax purposes.