The bill H.70 proposes to amend the definition of "conserved land" in Vermont law to include land that is enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program. This change aims to enhance the conserved land inventory by recognizing agricultural land and forestland that are managed sustainably under this program. Specifically, the bill modifies the definition of "natural resource management area" to include these types of land, thereby broadening the scope of what constitutes conserved land.

Additionally, the bill revises the definition of "conserved" by removing the term "permanently protected" and clarifying that it encompasses areas that meet specific ecological criteria for conservation goals. The bill also establishes an effective date of July 1, 2025, for these changes to take effect. Overall, H.70 seeks to strengthen community resiliency and biodiversity protection efforts in Vermont by integrating more land into conservation frameworks.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 10-2801