| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture & Rural Affairs |
| FROM: | John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1044 by Watson (Relating to authorizing counties to finance the acquisition of conservation easements.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Natural Resources Code to authorize a county to finance the acquisition of a conservation easement under Chapter 183 by the use of the county's general fund, negotiable bonds or ad valorem taxes, but would prohibit acquisition by eminent domain. Counties would be included as "qualified easement holders" that would be authorized to participate in agricultural conservation easement activities. The bill also would remove the requirement that an applicant to receive grant funds for an agricultural conservation easement must demonstrate the ability to match 50 percent of the amount of the grant being sought.
This analysis assumes that a county would finance the acquisition of a conservation easement with applicable resources only if sufficient funds were available or it would not result in a negative fiscal impact. Therefore, no significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, SZ, TP
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