HB 2154
In CommitteeHouse
Conservation district land
Concerning land ownership by conservation districts.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill requires conservation districts to identify and publicly report on land they currently own that was previously used for farming or agriculture and was at least 20 acres in size. It also requires the Department of Agriculture to post these reports online for public access.
- Requires conservation districts to compile and submit to the Department of Agriculture, and post on their websites, an inventory of district-owned real property that was previously farmland of 20 acres or more as of the bill’s effective date.
- Inventory must include the legal description, any associated water rights, and the most recent crop(s) grown on each qualifying parcel.
- Excludes private land held under easement agreements from the inventory requirement.
- Mandates that the Department of Agriculture post all received inventories on its own website for public access.
- Sets a deadline of June 30, 2027, for completion and submission of the inventory.
Who is affected
- Conservation districts — Conservation districts will need to compile and submit detailed property inventories by June 30, 2027, and post them online, including information on previously acquired farmland parcels of 20 acres or more.
- Department of Agriculture — The Department of Agriculture will receive and publicly post conservation district property inventories, and must ensure they are made available on its website.
- Farmers and agricultural landowners — Farmers and agricultural landowners may benefit from increased transparency about district-owned land and how it was used before acquisition, especially if the land was previously used for farming or agriculture.
- General public — The general public will gain access to publicly available information about conservation district land holdings through district and state websites.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Increases public transparency about how conservation districts use publicly held land—especially former farmland—which supports democratic accountability and enables communities to assess whether district land holdings align with stated conservation and agricultural goals.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)–(2)Requiring disclosure of the most recent crop(s) grown helps farmers, researchers, and the public understand historical land use patterns, which can inform decisions about soil health, crop suitability, and land restoration potential.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 2(2)(c)Centralized public access via the Department of Agriculture’s website improves accessibility for rural residents, journalists, and advocacy groups who rely on such data to monitor local government actions and advocate for equitable land use policies.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 2(4)By identifying parcels previously used for agriculture, the inventory may help prevent future conversion of productive farmland to low-density residential or commercial development—supporting long-term food security and rural community stability.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)Farmers and agricultural service providers may benefit from knowing which large parcels are owned by districts and what crops were historically grown, potentially aiding negotiations for leases, conservation programs, or land acquisition opportunities.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Conservation districts must divert staff time and administrative resources to compile and submit detailed property inventories by June 30, 2027, using existing resources (as explicitly stated in the fiscal impact), potentially diverting attention from core conservation functions.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(1)The Department of Agriculture must develop, maintain, and host a public-facing database of district property inventories, adding technical and administrative burden to an already-staffed agency without additional funding.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(4)The 20-acre threshold excludes most small and mid-sized farms—many of which operate on 5–15 acres—limiting the transparency benefit to only larger agricultural operations, while small farmers may still be affected by district land decisions but gain no added insight.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(1)(b)Excluding private land held under easement agreements from the inventory creates a transparency gap—easements are often used to restrict development or preserve agricultural use, and omitting them reduces public accountability for lands that may be functionally equivalent to owned property.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 2(3)The requirement to report only on land *as of the effective date* (July 1, 2026) means future acquisitions or changes in land use are not captured, limiting the long-term utility of the inventory and potentially requiring future legislative fixes.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(1)(a)
Who Is Most Affected
Conservation districts will face administrative costs without additional funding, but gain clarity on land-use reporting expectations and may strengthen public trust through transparency.
The Department of Agriculture must implement and maintain a public database but gains statutory authority to standardize and centralize district land data—potentially improving interagency coordination.
Large-scale farms (20+ acres) benefit most from the transparency; small and mid-sized farms gain little due to the acreage threshold, and those on easement land are excluded entirely.
The general public gains access to previously unavailable data on district-owned land, supporting informed civic engagement—but rural residents with limited internet access or digital literacy may be excluded from using the information.
Local governments (counties, cities) may use the inventory to better coordinate land-use planning and avoid duplication with district conservation efforts, though they gain no direct funding or enforcement authority from the bill.