CONSERVATION EASEMENT INCENTIVE ACT INTRODUCED

Over 250 U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation on May 24, 2011 to make the enhanced tax deduction for conservation easement donations a permanent law. Kansas Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins is an original co-sponsor of the bill, known as the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, or HR 1964.

A similar bill (S 339) was introduced on February 22, 2011 by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and nine other Senators. The enhanced tax law was extended in 2010, but is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2011 if Congress fails to pass legislation such as HR 1964 or S 339 before the end of the year.

The Land Trust Alliance’s research has reported the enhanced tax incentive, first made available in 2006, has increased the pace of private, voluntary land conservation by about 250,000 acres a year across the United States.

RTK is working with other Kansas conservation groups to encourage all members of the Kansas congressional delegation to sign-on as co-sponsors and support passage of the legislation in 2011.