Congresswoman Harriet Hageman and Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak introduced the Landowner Easement Rights Act. This legislation aims to limit the Department of the Interior from entering into new conservation easements that exceed 30 years. It also seeks to give landowners the ability to renegotiate terms, renew agreements, or buy back conservation easements at fair market value. The bill does not prevent Americans from entering into conservation easements or force them to renegotiate existing ones but provides options for those wishing to change their agreements.
"Under our current system of perpetual conservation easements, the devil is in the details," said Rep. Hageman. She emphasized that landowners often lose significant private property rights under these agreements. "This bill ends the current policy and allows a landowner to enter into time-limited conservation easements, thereby ensuring that each generation can make decisions regarding their property."
Rep. Fedorchak added, "North Dakota landowners are among the best stewards of our natural resources, and they don’t need the federal government locking up their land forever." She noted that easements should not last multiple generations and stressed that the bill would restore balance and flexibility for landowners.
Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards for Liberty, supported the act by stating, "No one has the right to permanently impair the property rights of future generations." She highlighted that limiting easements held by the Department of the Interior to 30 years is crucial for restoring property rights.
Conservation easements are legal agreements allowing landowners to retain and use their property while removing development rights for conservation priorities in exchange for tax benefits. However, these agreements often result in a loss of private property rights and reduced local revenue.
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