Chandler Sponsors Bill to Protect Kentucky Farms and Rural Landscape

Press Release

Congressman Ben Chandler joined his colleagues this week in supporting legislation to conserve Central Kentucky's farms and rural landscape. Introduced in the House of Representatives, H.R. 1576 would permanently extend the conservation easement tax provision in the Internal Revenue Code that is set to expire at the end of this year.

"Conservation easements are an important tool in protecting the beautiful landscape of Central Kentucky," said Congressman Chandler. "The 6th district is unlike any other place in the world, and we must do all we can to preserve our land for future generations."

Conservation easements are mechanisms that protect land in a way that zoning and planning cannot. When landowners donate their property as a conservation easement, to either the government or a public land trust, they maintain ownership and management of the land while forgoing their rights to develop the land in the future. Once under a conservation easement, the land can continue to be actively farmed, but it cannot be subject to development at any time, even if the land is sold.

"The Bluegrass region has been named one of the most endangered places in the world," said Chandler. "It has become exceedingly important that our land owners are given an incentive to preserve their land."

The conservation easement tax provision gives landowners a tax deduction equal to the land's development value. The bill has 26 co-sponsors led by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI).

Source