Relating to the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program.

New conservation rules for Texas farm grants

Beginning September 1, 2025, Texas farm conservation easements must cover qualified land and keep its agricultural or timber use. These land protection agreements must also protect water, native wildlife habitat, rare or sensitive plants, or large open-space tracts threatened by development or breakup. Grant priority goes to applications that protect farm or timber productivity on land at risk of development, subdivision, or breakup. Applications are scored on water and natural resources, native species habitat, added public or private funding, and closeness to protected land. Scoring also considers farm or timber productivity, whether the easement lasts forever or 30 years, and a management plan. Both parties must agree to that plan, and the program council must approve it. The council can accept funding, coordinate public and private money, make rules and contracts, and set fees, charges, and penalties. It also sets purchase and funding procedures, administers grants, adopts evaluation and enforcement standards, and approves easement terminations. Purchased easements must remain consistent with open-space protection, agricultural or timber use, and wildlife habitat or water conservation. The law creates no direct household payment.