An Act To Remove the Tax-exempt Status on Land Purchased by Nonprofit Groups for Conservation

CONCEPT DRAFT SUMMARY

This bill is a concept draft pursuant to Joint Rule 208.

This bill proposes to repeal the property tax exemption for certain land if the land is purchased by a nonprofit organization for conservation or preservation purposes and the owner restricts public access to the land for recreational purposes such as hiking, camping, hunting, trapping, fishing or snowmobiling. The bill would apply to land purchased in blocks of 100 or more acres either as a single parcel or in an aggregate of contiguous acres. The bill also proposes to remove such land from eligibility for current use valuation under the Maine Tree Growth Tax Law unless the land is maintained for commercial production.