Limiting Conservation Easements Duration Act

Model Bill Info
Bill Title	Limiting Conservation Easements Duration Act
Date Introduced	July 18, 2025
Type	Model Policy
Status	Draft
Task Forces	Energy, Environment and Agriculture; American City County Exchange

Limiting Conservation Easements Duration Act

Section 1: Definitions

Conservation easement” means a land easement purchase or gift that invests in a qualified land conservation organization called a “land trust”, or a governmental (municipal, county, state or federal) entity that constrains, as to a specified land area, the exercise of rights otherwise held by a landowner so as to achieve certain conservation purposes.

Section 2: Conservation easement limitations

Conservation easements involving any private land shall not exceed twenty (20) years. Conservation easement shall expire ten (10) years post death of the current property owner or the original length of agreement; whichever is shorter duration. A conservation easement may be renewed by mutual agreement, only for a duration of 20 years or less. This act does not apply to conservation easements held or purchased by governments. The transfer of a private easement to a government does not negate the time limits imposed by this act.

Section 3: Severability

Each section, paragraph, and portion of each paragraph of this Act is severable. If one or more sections, paragraphs, or portions of one or more paragraphs of this Act are held invalid on their face or as applied to particular facts, then the remaining portions and applications of the Act shall be given full effect to the greatest extent practicable.

Section 4. Applicability and Effective Date

This Act applies to all conservation easement contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after [DATE].