Increase Public Open Space in the Commonwealth

[05‑Mar‑2021] The Conservation Land Tax Credit (CLTC) has led to the conservation of 14,853 acres of critical natural resources in 150 municipalities. Recipients of land donations include a range of state, municipal, and conservation entities. As of May 2022, total CLTC requests for 2022 and beyond are $6,097,500. Much of this has already been committed to 2022/2023 projects. This means that new applications will not be eligible for funding until at least 2024. Currently, there is an unprecedented transition in ownership across the state, and many landowners simply cannot wait years to complete land deals, as they have pressing financial needs. Amendment #1 to H.2960 would 1) raise the annual cap of the CLTC Program from $2 million to $5 million (a combined total of credits for individuals and corporations) by increasing the cap incrementally over three years, 2) Amend the definition of a "public or private conservation agency" to include private nonprofit trusts that are 501(c)3s organized for conservation purposes, and 3) Sunset the enhanced credit on December 31, 2031. The CLTC is an important tool for creating public open space and expanding access to land that was once privately held. Increasing the annual cap is an enormous opportunity to conserve ecologically and economically valuable lands, as well as to advance our climate change goals. Learn more from the Nature Conservancy.