The bill, S.B. No. 2970, amends the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program to enhance the criteria and processes for agricultural conservation easements. It defines "agricultural conservation easement" to include the goal of maintaining the land's agricultural use potential while also addressing additional purposes such as conserving water quality, protecting wildlife habitats, and preserving open-space land. The council responsible for overseeing the program is granted expanded authority to adopt rules, accept various forms of funding, and establish protocols for purchasing agricultural conservation easements.

Furthermore, the bill prioritizes applications that protect and maintain the agricultural use potential of lands at risk of development. It introduces a scoring process for evaluating grant applications based on criteria such as landscape integrity, habitat protection, potential for leveraging funds, and the agricultural productivity of the land. Notably, the bill removes a previous criterion related to resource management plans, streamlining the evaluation process. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Parks and Wildlife Code 84.002, Parks and Wildlife Code 84.009, Parks and Wildlife Code 84.010 (Parks and Wildlife Code 84)