In this chapter:

1. (1) "Agricultural conservation easement" means a conservation easement in qualified land that is designed to maintain the land's agricultural or timber use and accomplish one or more of the following additional purposes:

   1. (A) conserving water quality or quantity;
   2. (B) conserving native wildlife species through protection of their habitat;
   3. (C) conserving rare or sensitive plant species; or
   4. (D) conserving large tracts of qualified open-space land that are threatened with fragmentation or development.
2. (2) "Conservation easement" has the meaning assigned by Section 183.001, Natural Resources Code.
3. (3) "Council" means the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council established under Section 84.011.
4. (4) "Fund" means the Texas farm and ranch lands conservation fund established under Section 84.008.
5. (5) "Holder" has the meaning assigned by Section 183.001, Natural Resources Code.
6. (6) "Program" means the Texas farm and ranch lands conservation program established under this chapter.
7. (7) "Purchase of agricultural conservation easement" means the purchase from a willing seller of an agricultural conservation easement.

8. (8) "Qualified easement holder" means a holder that is:

   1. (A) a state agency, a county, or a municipality; or
   2. (B) an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as an organization described by Section 501(c)(3) of that code and that is organized for the purpose of preserving agriculture, open space, or natural resources.

9. (9) "Qualified land" means qualified open-space land, as that term is defined by Section 23.51, Tax Code.

   Transferred, redesignated and amended from Natural Resources Code, Subchapter B, Chapter 183 by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 401 (H.B. 1925), Sec. 1, eff. June 10, 2015.

   Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 124 (H.B. 2018), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.