TX SB2970

Amends the definition of "agricultural conservation easement" to explicitly require maintaining the land's agricultural use potential as a primary purpose, in addition to conserving water, wildlife habitat, plant species, or open-space land

Requires the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council to ensure purchased easements are consistent with maintenance of the land's agricultural use potential, adding this as a new explicit requirement alongside open space preservation and wildlife/water conservation

Directs the council to prioritize grant applications that protect and maintain the agricultural use potential of lands susceptible to development, subdivision, and fragmentation

Adds "the land's agricultural productivity" as a new scoring criterion for evaluating grant applications under the program

Takes effect September 1, 2025