(a) The council may:

1. (1) adopt rules necessary to perform program duties under this chapter;
2. (2) request, accept, and use gifts, loans, donations, aid, appropriations, guaranties, subsidies, grants, or contributions of any item of value for the furtherance of any purposes of this chapter;
3. (3) establish, charge, and collect fees, charges, and penalties in connection with the programs, services, and activities provided for by this chapter;
4. (4) make, enter into, and enforce contracts and agreements, and take other actions as may accomplish any of the purposes of this chapter;
5. (5) seek ways to coordinate and leverage public and private sources of funding;
6. (6) adopt best practices and enforcement standards for the evaluation of easements purchased through grants from the fund;
7. (7) establish a protocol for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements and for the distribution of funds to approved applicants;
8. (8) administer grants awarded to successful applicants;

9. (9) ensure that agricultural conservation easements purchased under this chapter are not inconsistent with:

   1. (A) the preservation of open space;
   2. (B) the maintenance of the land's agricultural or timber use; and
   3. (C) the conservation of wildlife habitat or water; and
10. (10) approve the termination of easements and take any other action necessary to further the goals of the program.

(b) To receive a grant from the fund under this chapter, an applicant who is qualified to be an easement holder under this chapter must submit an application to the council. The application must:

1. (1) set out the parties' clear conservation goals consistent with the program;
2. (2) include a site-specific estimate-of-value appraisal by a licensed appraiser qualified to determine the market value of the easement; and
3. (3) include a memorandum of understanding signed by the landowner and the applicant indicating intent to sell an agricultural conservation easement and containing the terms of the contract for the sale of the easement.

(c) For the purposes of determining the amount of a grant under this chapter, the value of an agricultural conservation easement shall be determined by a site-specific estimate-of-value appraisal performed by a licensed, qualified appraiser.

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. 2, eff. September 1, 2025.