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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 84.002(1), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1) "Agricultural conservation easement" means a |
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conservation easement in qualified land that is designed to |
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maintain the land's agricultural use potential and accomplish one |
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or more of the following additional purposes: |
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(A) conserving water quality or quantity; |
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(B) conserving native wildlife species through |
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protection of their habitat; |
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(C) conserving rare or sensitive plant species; |
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or |
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(D) conserving large tracts of qualified |
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open-space land that are threatened with fragmentation or |
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development. |
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SECTION 2. Section 84.009(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The council may: |
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(1) adopt rules necessary to perform program duties |
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under this chapter; |
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(2) request, accept, and use gifts, loans, donations, |
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aid, appropriations, guaranties, subsidies, grants, or |
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contributions of any item of value for the furtherance of any |
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purposes of this chapter; |
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(3) establish, charge, and collect fees, charges, and |
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penalties in connection with the programs, services, and activities |
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provided for by this chapter; |
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(4) make, enter into, and enforce contracts and |
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agreements, and take other actions as may accomplish any of the |
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purposes of this chapter; |
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(5) seek ways to coordinate and leverage public and |
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private sources of funding; |
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(6) adopt best practices and enforcement standards for |
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the evaluation of easements purchased through grants from the fund; |
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(7) establish a protocol for the purchase of |
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agricultural conservation easements and for the distribution of |
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funds to approved applicants; |
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(8) administer grants awarded to successful |
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applicants; |
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(9) ensure that agricultural conservation easements |
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purchased under this chapter are not inconsistent with: |
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(A) the preservation of open space; |
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(B) the maintenance of the land's agricultural |
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use potential; and |
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(C) the conservation of wildlife habitat or |
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water; and |
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(10) approve the termination of easements and take any |
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other action necessary to further the goals of the program. |
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SECTION 3. Section 84.010, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 84.010. CRITERIA FOR AWARDING GRANTS. The council |
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shall: |
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(1) give priority to applications that protect and |
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maintain the agricultural use potential of lands that are |
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susceptible to development, including subdivision and |
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fragmentation; and |
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(2) adopt a scoring process to be used in evaluating |
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applications that considers the following: |
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(A) maintenance of landscape and watershed |
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integrity to conserve water and natural resources; |
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(B) protection of habitats for native plant and |
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animal species, including habitats for endangered, threatened, |
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rare, or sensitive species; |
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(C) potential for leveraging state money |
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allocated to the program with additional public or private money; |
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(D) proximity of the subject property to other |
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protected lands; |
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(E) the term of the proposed easement, whether |
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perpetual or for a term of 30 years; |
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(F) the land's agricultural productivity; and |
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(G) [(F)] a resource management plan agreed to by |
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both parties and approved by the council. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |