HB2018 - Relating to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program.

      H.B. No. 2018         AN ACT   relating to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 84.002(1), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (1)  "Agricultural conservation easement" means a   conservation easement in qualified land that is designed to   maintain the land's agricultural or timber use and accomplish one   or more of the following additional purposes:                      (A)  conserving water quality or quantity;                      (B)  conserving native wildlife species through   protection of their habitat;                      (C)  conserving rare or sensitive plant species;   or                      (D)  conserving large tracts of qualified   open-space land that are threatened with fragmentation or   development.          SECTION 2.  Section 84.009(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The council may:                (1)  adopt rules necessary to perform program duties   under this chapter;                (2)  request, accept, and use gifts, loans, donations,   aid, appropriations, guaranties, subsidies, grants, or   contributions of any item of value for the furtherance of any   purposes of this chapter;                (3)  establish, charge, and collect fees, charges, and   penalties in connection with the programs, services, and activities   provided for by this chapter;                (4)  make, enter into, and enforce contracts and   agreements, and take other actions as may accomplish any of the   purposes of this chapter;                (5)  seek ways to coordinate and leverage public and   private sources of funding;                (6)  adopt best practices and enforcement standards for   the evaluation of easements purchased through grants from the fund;                (7)  establish a protocol for the purchase of   agricultural conservation easements and for the distribution of   funds to approved applicants;                (8)  administer grants awarded to successful   applicants;                (9)  ensure that agricultural conservation easements   purchased under this chapter are not inconsistent with :                       (A)   the preservation of open space ;                       (B)     the maintenance of the land's agricultural or   timber use; and                       (C)   the conservation of wildlife habitat or   water; and                (10)  approve the termination of easements and take any   other action necessary to further the goals of the program.          SECTION 3.  Section 84.010, Parks and Wildlife Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 84.010.  CRITERIA FOR AWARDING GRANTS.  The council   shall:                (1)  give priority to applications that protect and   maintain the agricultural or timber productivity of lands that are   susceptible to development, including subdivision and   fragmentation; and                (2)  adopt a scoring process to be used in evaluating   applications that considers the following:                      (A)  maintenance of landscape and watershed   integrity to conserve water and natural resources;                      (B)  protection of habitats for native plant and   animal species, including habitats for endangered, threatened,   rare, or sensitive species;                      (C)  potential for leveraging state money   allocated to the program with additional public or private money;                      (D)  proximity of the subject property to other   protected lands;                      (E)  the term of the proposed easement, whether   perpetual or for a term of 30 years;                       (F)     the land's agricultural or timber   productivity; and                       (G)  [ (F) ]  a resource management plan agreed to by   both parties and approved by the council.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2018 was passed by the House on April   30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2018 was passed by the Senate on May   9, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor