Bill
HD 1863
Overview: HD 1863, An Act to further the protection of agricultural land, proposed bill, introduced November 29, 2025.Purpose and Intent: This legislation aims to strengthen the st
Overview: HD 1863, An Act to further the protection of agricultural land, proposed bill, introduced November 29, 2025.
Purpose and Intent: This legislation aims to strengthen the state's efforts to preserve and protect agricultural land from development and conversion to non-agricultural uses. The bill recognizes the importance of maintaining a robust agricultural sector and the environmental benefits of preserving farmland.
Key Provisions:
- Expands the state's agricultural preservation restriction (APR) program, which provides financial incentives to landowners to keep their land in agricultural use
- Increases the maximum allowable APR payment to landowners from $10,000 per acre to $15,000 per acre
- Requires state and local government agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of the potential impacts on agricultural land before approving any development projects
- Establishes a new tax credit program to incentivize the donation of agricultural conservation easements
Affected Parties and Impacts:
- Owners of agricultural land, who will have greater financial incentives to participate in the APR program and preserve their land
- State and local government agencies, which will need to incorporate agricultural land impact assessments into their development review processes
- Environmental and conservation organizations, which may see increased opportunities to acquire agricultural conservation easements
Procedural and Timeline Considerations:
The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture for further consideration. If passed, the new programs and requirements would be phased in over a 2-year period to allow for implementation and outreach to affected stakeholders.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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