The bill H.386, introduced by Representative Surprenant, aims to establish an Agricultural Land Transfer Assistance Program within the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. This program is designed to assist agricultural landowners in connecting with potential buyers who are committed to maintaining the land for farming purposes. The bill introduces a new chapter, Chapter 208, which outlines the program's objectives, including identifying available agricultural land for transfer, providing succession planning assistance to farm owners, and helping new farmers access financing for land purchases. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of a toolkit for succession planning and the development of an online agricultural land portal to facilitate connections between sellers and buyers.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a Land Transfer and Succession Board to oversee the implementation of the program and recommend additional tools and resources to support land transitions. The Secretary of Agriculture is tasked with conducting educational workshops and training staff to assist in the land transfer process. The bill also includes provisions for tax incentives to encourage the transfer of agricultural lands and appropriates $250,000 for the program's implementation in fiscal year 2026. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.