The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 5282 aims to implement recommendations from the Continuing Legislative Committee on Planning and Development regarding the State Plan of Conservation and Development. Key changes include raising the cost thresholds for state agency actions that must align with the plan, increasing the acquisition and development cost limits from $200,000 to $1 million. Additionally, the bill modifies the requirements for state grants, stipulating that applications submitted before October 1, 2026, must exceed $200,000, while those submitted on or after that date must exceed $1 million. The bill also mandates that the secretary of the Office of Policy and Management adjust these thresholds every five years based on the Producer Price Index.

Furthermore, the bill replaces the term "regional planning agency" with "regional council of governments" in various statutes and repeals certain sections related to priority funding areas. It requires municipal plans of conservation and development adopted after July 1, 2026, to identify areas served by existing and planned sewerage systems. The bill also emphasizes the need for state agencies to consider the state plan when preparing their plans and requires advisory statements to ensure conformity with the conservation and development plan. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline processes and update regulations to better align with current needs and practices.

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