H.B. 607 Summary

• Requires the Director of Agriculture to adopt rules establishing the Ohio Water Quality Improvement Program, consistent with the federal conservation reserve program's water quality standards.

• Exempts land enrolled in the Water Quality Improvement Program from taxation for the tax year of enrollment under new section 5709.30.

• Requires the state to reimburse local taxing units for revenue lost due to property tax exemptions on program-enrolled land through payments from the general revenue fund.

• Authorizes individuals to apply for enrollment of land they own in the program and requires soil and water conservation districts to assist participating landowners upon request.

• Imposes a three-year clawback charge on land removed from the program equal to taxes that would have been levied during the year of removal and the two preceding tax years.