Requires SADC and any local board acquiring farmland for preservation purposes to provide partial payment to landowner, in advance of settlement, to demonstrate good faith intent to proceed with settlement and acquisition.

This bill requires state and local farmland preservation agencies to pay landowners an advance payment of 20 percent of the estimated sale price before the final settlement is completed. The advance payment is intended to demonstrate the agency's good faith commitment to proceed with the acquisition and is deducted from the final purchase price if the deal goes through. If the acquisition agreement is cancelled or abandoned before settlement, the landowner must repay the advance amount, which becomes a debt owed to the government and can be secured by a lien on the landowner's property. The legislation applies to both the State Agricultural Development Committee and any local boards acquiring farmland for preservation purposes.