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Bill

H 70

An act relating to the inclusion of use value appraisal land in the conserved land inventory

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Richard Bailey and 29 co-sponsors

H.70 would count lands enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal program toward Vermont’s conserved land inventory to boost progress toward 30% and 50% conservation targets.

Which was disagreed to on a Roll Call Failed -- Needed 69 of 138 to Pass -- Yeas = 58, Nays = 80
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Bill Summary · H 70

Overview

H.70 ( Vermont, 2025-2026) seeks to include land enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal (UVA) Program in the conserved land inventory. The bill aims to expand the set of lands considered “conserved” to help Vermont meet landscape protection goals.

Purpose and intent

  • Extend the conserved land inventory to encompass lands enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program.
  • Align with broader conservation and biodiversity objectives by ensuring UVA lands contribute to measurable conservation metrics (30% and 50% targets referenced in the statute).

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (10 V.S.A. § 2801):
    • Clarifies that a "Natural resource management area" includes land that is permanently protected or long-term managed and that is enrolled in the UVA program (32 V.S.A. ch. 124).
    • Redefines "Conserved" to mean permanently protected land meeting ecological reserve, biodiversity conservation, or natural resource management criteria for the 30% goal. For the 50% goal, conserved land may also include other long-term protection mechanisms that support an ecologically functional and connected landscape, as long as they are enforceable and accountable and align with Vermont Conservation Design.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Who/what would be affected

  • Lands enrolled in the Use Value Appraisal Program would be eligible to count toward Vermont’s conserved land inventory.
  • This potentially broadens the pool of land eligible for conservation metrics, influencing planning, reporting, and possibly funding or program prioritization.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced and referred to the House Committee on Environment.
  • House Committee on Environment held multiple meetings (Introduction, walk-through, committee discussions) in 2025-2026.
  • The latest action (as of the document) shows a roll-call vote on May 12, 2026: a motion to relieve the committee and a subsequent yeas/nays vote failed, 58–80 (requires 69 of 138 to pass). This indicates the bill faced procedural hurdles and did not advance at that time.
  • Sponsors include a broad set of representatives; several co-sponsors listed.
  • Next steps would depend on future committee action, potential amendments, and floor votes.

Supporting and interested stakeholders

  • Environmental organizations and conservation groups (e.g., The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Vermont) contributed to the bill’s development and public discussion.
  • Landowners and the forestry/agriculture community with UVA parcels could be directly affected, as their land would contribute to the conserved land inventory.

Potential impacts

  • Conservation metrics: If UVA lands are included, Vermont could more readily approach or exceed 30% and 50% conserved land targets depending on UVA enrollments and protection status.
  • Planning and biodiversity: Inclusion may influence land-use planning, land protection incentives, and landscape-scale conservation design.
  • Administrative: Requires alignment of UVA program lands with conserved land definitions, potentially affecting reporting, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms.

Summary

H.70 proposes to count Use Value Appraisal lands as conserved for the purpose of Vermont’s conserved land inventory, tying UVA enrollment to measurable conservation goals. It refines definitions to ensure such lands qualify under the state’s ecological and protected-land criteria, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. As of the latest action, the bill did not pass the House in May 2026, reflecting ongoing debate and the need for additional support or amendments.

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

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