Establishes program in SADC for acquisition of development easements on privately-owned woodlands.*
This bill creates a state program to permanently restrict development on qualifying privately-owned woodlands through easement acquisitions. Landowners with woodlands meeting specific criteria (minimum 20 acres, used for agriculture/forest products, or managed under approved stewardship plans) can participate. The State Agriculture Development Committee will administer the program using existing farmland preservation funds and seek federal programs like the Forest Legacy Program, with easements recorded similarly to property deeds. The goal is to preserve forested lands for agricultural, silvicultural, and conservation purposes.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2024
Last action Jan 12, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2025
How they voted
39–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 40
Mar 24, 2025
D
Democratic25
96% Yea
R
Republican15
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
5
Jan 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (68-1-1)
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading
lower
Jun 16, 2025
Committee
Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (39-0)
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
upper
Dec 12, 2024
Committee
Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
upper
Jan 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee
upper
5 primary · 29 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Bob Singer
RRepublican
P
Dave Bailey
DDemocratic
P
Dawn Fantasia
RRepublican
P
John Burzichelli
DDemocratic
P
Sean Kean
RRepublican
Co
Alex Sauickie
RRepublican
Co
Andrea Katz
DDemocratic
Co
Angela McKnight
DDemocratic
Co
Avi Schnall
DDemocratic
Co
Bob Auth
RRepublican
Co
Carmen Amato
RRepublican
Co
Chris DePhillips
RRepublican
Co
Claire Swift
RRepublican
Co
Cody Miller
DDemocratic
Co
Erik Peterson
RRepublican
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