Committee endorses voluntary goal to expand protected lands to 7 million acres by 2050

Representative Hadden told the committee that House Bill 5069 would establish a long-term, voluntary land-protection goal to increase conserved lands from about 3.2 million acres today to 7 million acres by 2050. The bill would also require agencies to coordinate land-protection projects and report acquisitions, funding sources and long-term management plans to the General Assembly.

"50 69 creates a long term land protection goal for the state to increase protected lands beyond the current... to 7,000,000 acres by 2050," Representative Hadden said, describing the bill as a codification of existing interagency practices. Committee members asked whether the designation would be voluntary and whether privately owned land would be affected; the sponsor said participation is voluntary and would not take private land.

Members also discussed the current baseline acreage (committee discussion cited approximately 3.2 million acres) and possible incentive mechanisms, including a separate tax rebate bill in Ways and Means. After discussion a motion to pass the measure was seconded and the committee approved the bill by roll call. The bill will move forward for further consideration.