HB3196 Summary

• Changes the short title from "Renewable Energy Facilities Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act" to "Agricultural Impact Mitigation Act" to broaden scope beyond renewable energy to include pipelines and electric transmission lines.

• Expands the act's purpose to protect landowners during construction and deconstruction of pipelines and electric transmission lines in addition to renewable energy facilities, requiring restoration of affected land to pre-construction condition.

• Requires pipeline owners and electric transmission line owners to enter into agricultural impact mitigation agreements (AIMA) with the Department of Agriculture before construction, following similar requirements already established for wind and solar facilities.

• Requires pipeline owners to submit executed AIAAs to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and request FERC affirm the pipeline's adherence to construction standards in environmental assessments or impact statements.

• Mandates pipeline owners, transmission line owners, and renewable energy facility owners hire Department-approved agricultural inspectors who can temporarily halt construction or deconstruction activities if the facility violates any AIMA provision.