This bill establishes a program under the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to preserve agricultural and horticultural land threatened by high-density development, particularly warehouses. It allocates $50 million from the Global Warming Solutions Fund to create the "Protection of Farmland from Development Fund," which will be dedicated to acquiring land or development easements to safeguard farmland. The bill defines key terms related to high-density development and outlines the process for landowners wishing to sell their agricultural land, requiring them to notify the SADC of any purchase offers. The SADC will have the first right to purchase the land and will evaluate its suitability for preservation based on various criteria, including regional significance and environmental impact.

Furthermore, any land acquired by the SADC will be subject to agricultural deed restrictions to ensure its continued use for farming. The bill also amends existing legislation to clarify the allocation of funds and administrative costs associated with greenhouse gas emissions reduction programs. Overall, the legislation emphasizes the importance of protecting agricultural land from non-agricultural development and establishes a structured approach for its preservation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 26:2C-51