CA AB524

Establishes the Farmland Access and Conservation for Thriving Communities Program within the Department of Conservation to provide financial and technical assistance for acquiring agricultural land to transfer or lease to beginning, socially disadvantaged, and tribal farmers and ranchers

Creates the Farmland Access Fund in the State Treasury to support program activities including land acquisition, conservation easements, technical assistance, farmer housing, and on-farm infrastructure improvements

Requires qualified entities receiving grants to either transfer land with conservation easements to qualified farmer participants or enter long-term leases of at least 10 years (with renewal options totaling 20+ years) within five years of acquisition

Mandates at least 33% of financial assistance each grant cycle go to tribal governments and tribal entities, with priority given to socially disadvantaged farmers and farms of 500 acres or fewer

Caps land improvement expenses at 15% of financial assistance and requires resale proceeds to continue supporting program purposes; program operation is contingent upon legislative appropriation