WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

H 386

An act relating to establishing an Agricultural Land Transfer Assistance Program

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Surprenant

Creates a program and resources to keep Vermont farmland in farming by aiding land transfers, succession planning, and helping new farmers access land and capital.

Read first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · H 386

Summary of H.386 (2025-2026) — Vermont

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes an Agricultural Land Transfer Assistance Program within the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
  • Aims to assist owners of agricultural land in connecting with prospective purchasers who intend to maintain the land for farming, support succession planning, and help new farmers access land and capital.
  • Overall goal: facilitate transfer or succession of agricultural land to individuals or entities that will continue farming, preserving farmland in Vermont.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Program establishment and scope (6 V.S.A. chapter 208)

    • Creates the Agricultural Land Transfer Assistance Program (the Program) at the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
    • Program duties include:
      • Identifying agricultural land that may be available for transfer or succession.
      • Assisting farm owners with succession planning or finding willing, farming-maintaining purchasers.
      • Assisting new farmers in accessing capital or financing to purchase land.
      • Connecting landowners with purchasers willing to retain land for farming.
      • Implementing the tools and programs established under this chapter.

  2. Farm Ownership Succession Planning Program (§ 4653)

    • Secretary of Agriculture, after consulting with the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, must establish a Farm Ownership Succession Planning Program.
    • Develops a succession planning toolkit for owners selling or closing farms, which includes:
      • Financial resources available to prospective farmers.
      • Education and support programs at state/public and private higher education institutions.
      • State-supported economic development funding for farming.
      • Organizations auctioning/selling farming equipment and supplies (in-state and adjoining states).
      • Insurance and financial services requirements related to farm sales/purchases.
      • Legal templates and resources to assist in farm land transfer.
      • Directory of professionals (e.g., attorneys, accountants) experienced in farm transfers.
    • Toolkit shall be publicly accessible via the Agency’s website.
    • Conducts at least three educational workshops per year to connect landowners with prospective farmers.

  3. Land transfer navigators (staff training and assistance)

    • The Secretary shall train Agency staff or contract for services to aid exiting farmers and new farmers in navigating the land transfer process.
    • Designated personnel called “land transfer navigators” will:
      • Meet with prospective sellers and buyers to facilitate transfers that keep land in farming.
      • Provide guidance on regulatory requirements related to land transfer and farm operation (e.g., compliance with Required Agricultural Practices).

  4. Agricultural Land Portal (online tool)

    • Develops an online agricultural land portal on the Agency’s website.
    • Portal to host public postings of land available for sale or lease and instructions for connecting buyers and sellers.

  5. Land Transfer and Succession Board (governance)

    • Creates a Land Transfer and Succession Board (attached to the Agency for administrative purposes).
    • Board composition:
      • Secretary of Agriculture, or designee.
      • Representatives from: Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program (Vermont Housing and Conservation Board), Vermont Land Trust, Land for Good, and Vermont Farm to Plate Initiative (appointed by respective authorities).
    • Terms: three-year terms; up to three consecutive terms for members; vacancies filled for the remainder of terms.
    • Powers and duties:
      • Assist with implementing this chapter, fundraising, and developing land succession/acquisition expertise.
      • Recommend programs or tools to facilitate transitions of agricultural lands.
    • Structure: allows for officers, committees, procedural rules; specifies quorum and voting; permits remote participation; provides per diem and expense reimbursement for private sector board members.

  6. Tax incentives and reporting (Sec. 2)

    • Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, after consulting with the Commissioner of Taxes, to report to specified House and Senate committees on potential tax incentives or other financial incentives to facilitate land transfer or succession.

  7. Appropriation (Sec. 3)

    • Appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund in FY 2026 to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets for implementing the Agricultural Land Transfer Assistance Program, in addition to other appropriations.

  8. Effective date (Sec. 4)

    • Act takes effect July 1, 2025.

Who would be affected

  • Agricultural landowners seeking to transfer or succession planning (sellers and agents).
  • Prospective and new farming entrants seeking to purchase or lease farmland.
  • Landowners and purchasers requiring financing, insurance, and professional services related to farm transfers.
  • State agencies and partners involved in agriculture, housing/conservation, land trusts, and farming initiatives (e.g., Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, Vermont Land Trust, Land for Good, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Farm to Plate initiative).
  • Vermont residents seeking educational workshops and access to a centralized land-transfer portal.

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • Implementation timeline begins with the act’s effective date (July 1, 2025).
  • The Department must implement:
    • Succession planning program and toolkit after collaboration with partners.
    • At least three annual educational workshops.
    • Training for land transfer navigators.
    • An online Agricultural Land Portal.
    • A Land Transfer and Succession Board to oversee program and fundraising.
  • FY2026 appropriation of $250,000 to support initial implementation.
  • A parallel tax-incentive report is due to specific legislative committees, outlining possible incentives to facilitate land transfer and succession.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Provides a structured framework and centralized resources to help keep agricultural land in farming, addressing land access and succession challenges.
  • Creates navigators and a public toolkit to ease transitions, potentially reducing barriers for new farmers.
  • The portal and workshops aim to increase transparency and information sharing among landowners and aspiring farmers.
  • The governance board brings together multiple stakeholders to coordinate efforts and funding.
  • Funding is limited to an initial $250,000 for FY2026, with potential ongoing financial incentives explored in the tax incentive report.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.