Bill > H3744

This bill amends the conservation restrictions and agricultural preservation statutes in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: - Requiring landowners who terminate a non-development covenant to reimburse the state for any prior compensation provided under the covenant. - Establishing an Agricultural Preservation Trust Fund to manage funds for acquiring agricultural preservation restrictions. - Allowing the Commissioner of Agricultural Resources to grant special permits for non-agricultural activities, including alternative energy facilities, on land subject to agricultural preservation restrictions. - Creating a Land Use Technical Advisory Committee to recommend regulations and provide exemptions for landowners regarding practices on land with agricultural preservation restrictions. - Clarifying that conservation, preservation, agricultural preservation, and watershed preservation restrictions must be in perpetuity or for a specified term, and can only be released under certain conditions. - Allowing utility easements to be taken on restricted lands with minimum interference and appropriate compensation to the landowner and restriction holders. - Applying these changes retroactively to all existing restrictions authorized under the relevant statutes.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3744