Bill to clarify state and local roles in conservation easements draws support at hearing

Assembly Bill 429, presented at a March 26 hearing in the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, would reorganize Nevada’s conservation-easement statute to make explicit that any entity — including state and local government bodies — may participate in conservation easements for land they own. The bill’s sponsor and conservation practitioners said the change is primarily a clarity measure to reduce uncertainty that has slowed easement transactions.

Howard Wasp, representing Assembly District 15, said the bill “identifies the need to just clarify the existing statute” and noted the current law dates to the 1983 Uniform Conservation Easement Act. Jake Tibbetts, Natural Resources Manager for Eureka County, described instances where unclear statutory language created “cold feet” among potential easement partners and said the proposal would provide “certainty and durability for current and future conservation easements.”

Alicia Reban, identified in committee testimony as executive director of Nevada Land Trust, described conservation easements as "a permanent protection tool for conservation of land" used to protect recreation, working lands and wildlife habitat. She told the committee easements can serve as a backstop for public spaces, parks and trails by preserving development rights while keeping property in non‑federal ownership. Reban said local governments sometimes receive or reserve easements when they receive land and that clarifying the statute would encourage agencies to use this tool where appropriate.

Committee counsel and members confirmed the bill does not change the voluntary nature of easements. Committee Counsel Jeff Chronister said the statute allows parties flexibility to agree to different terms and that easements are documented in writing; Assemblymember DeLong asked to confirm that a landowner’s voluntary agreement remains required. Howard Wasp and Chronister both said that is correct: conservation easements are voluntary and require the landowner’s agreement.

The committee opened the record for public testimony in Carson City and by phone. Christy Cabrera Georgeson, deputy director of the Nevada Conservation League, testified in support, calling conservation easements “an important tool to protect our lands” and endorsing the bill as clarifying existing practice. No callers testified in opposition; no neutral callers registered.

The hearing concluded with the sponsor offering to answer follow-up questions and the committee closing testimony. No committee vote was recorded on AB 429 during the March 26 hearing.

Ending: The bill’s primary change is statutory clarification — not creation of a new regulatory regime — and sponsors said it is intended to reduce transaction risk by explicitly allowing state and local entities to enter or participate in easements for lands they own.