HB 2018

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
(1)  "Agricultural conservation easement" means a
conservation easement in qualified land that is designed to
maintain the land's agricultural use potential and accomplish one
or more of the following additional purposes:
(A)  conserving water quality or quantity;
(B)  conserving native wildlife species through
(C)  conserving rare or sensitive plant species;
(D)  conserving large tracts of qualified
open-space land that are threatened with fragmentation or
SECTION 2.  Section 84.009(a), Parks and Wildlife Code, is
(1)  adopt rules necessary to perform program duties
(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
(3)  establish, charge, and collect fees, charges, and
penalties in connection with the programs, services, and activities
(4)  make, enter into, and enforce contracts and
agreements, and take other actions as may accomplish any of the
(5)  seek ways to coordinate and leverage public and
(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
(8)  administer grants awarded to successful
(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
(C)  the conservation of wildlife habitat or
(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
Sec. 84.010.  CRITERIA FOR AWARDING GRANTS.  The council
(1)  give priority to applications that protect and
maintain the agricultural use potential of lands that are
susceptible to development, including subdivision 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,
(C)  potential for leveraging state money
allocated to the program with additional public or private money;
(D)  proximity of the subject property to other
(E)  the term of the proposed easement, whether
perpetual or for a term of 30 years;
(F)  the land's agricultural 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.