119 S2566 IS: Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act U.S. Senate 2025-07-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II119th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2566IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 31, 2025Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Sheehy) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and ForestryA BILLTo amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to authorize States to approve certain organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act.

2.

Authority of States to allow qualified organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program

(a)

State authorization

Section 7 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c) is amended—(1)in subsection (l)—(A)in paragraph (2)(A), by striking subsection (m) and inserting subsection (n); and (B)in paragraph (3)—(i)in subparagraph (A), by striking the State of Vermont and inserting any State; and(ii)in subparagraph (B)(ii), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking State of Vermont and inserting applicable State;(2)by redesignating subsection (m) as subsection (n); and (3)by inserting after subsection (l) the following:(m)

Third-Party conservation easements

(1)

Definition of qualified organization

In this subsection, the term qualified organization means an organization that—(A)is a qualified organization (as defined in section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986);(B)is organized for, and at all times since the formation of the organization has been operated principally for, one or more conservation purposes (as defined in section 170(h)(4)(A) of that Code);(C)has not been the subject of any criminal or civil enforcement action taken by the Attorney General or the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service pertaining to the charitable donation of conservation easements under that Code; and(D)has been awarded, and at all times thereafter has maintained, accredited status by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, or if that Commission ceases to exist, a successor organization that offers substantially similar accreditation and is approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section.(2)

Authorization

At the request of a State, the Secretary shall authorize the State to approve eligible qualified organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements to carry out activities under the Forest Legacy Program.(3)

Eligibility

To be eligible to acquire, hold, and manage a conservation easement under this subsection, a qualified organization shall demonstrate to the Secretary the abilities necessary to acquire, monitor, and enforce interests in forestland—(A)consistent with the Forest Legacy Program; and(B)in accordance with the applicable assessment of need submitted to the Secretary by the State in which the conservation easement is located.(4)

Reversion

If the Secretary or a State determines a condition described in paragraph (5) is met with respect to a conservation easement—(A)all right, title, and interest of the qualified organization in and to the conservation easement shall terminate; and(B)all right, title, and interest in and to the conservation easement shall revert to the State or, if approved by the State, another qualified organization determined eligible by the Secretary under paragraph (3).(5)

Conditions for reversion

A condition referred to in paragraph (4) is, with respect to a conservation easement acquired, held, and managed by a qualified organization under this subsection, any of the following:(A)The qualified organization is unable to carry out the responsibilities of the qualified organization under the Forest Legacy Program with respect to the conservation easement.(B)The conservation easement has been modified in a way that is inconsistent with the purposes of the Forest Legacy Program or the applicable assessment of need described in paragraph (3)(B).(C)The conservation easement has been conveyed to another person (other than a qualified organization determined eligible by the Secretary under paragraph (3) and approved by the State)..(b)

Technical corrections

Section 7 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c) is amended—(1)in subsection (i), in the first sentence, by striking subsection (b) and inserting subsection (c);(2)in subsection (l)(3)(B)(i)(II), by adding and after the semicolon at the end; and(3)in subsection (n) (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), in the subsection heading, by striking Appropriation and inserting Authorization of appropriations.