# Plain Language Summary: Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022

This bill extends and updates a federal program that helps protect natural areas and open spaces in the Highlands region, which spans parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. The original program was set to expire, so this bill keeps it going through 2028 and makes it easier for states to use the money for conservation projects. Essentially, it's a renewal of funding and authority for an existing land protection initiative that's been operating since 2004.

The bill increases the annual funding from $10 million to $20 million per year, giving states more money to buy land, protect forests, and preserve natural areas that have been identified as environmentally valuable. States can now also ask to add more municipalities to the program if they want additional areas protected. One practical change is that states can now use up to 5 percent of their funds to cover administrative costs—things like hiring staff to manage the program—whereas before there were stricter limits on how much could go to overhead rather than actual land conservation.

The bill also makes the program more flexible by allowing states to use different methods for determining property values when buying land for conservation. Previously, states had to follow federal appraisal standards, but now they can propose alternative methods if state law requires something different. This removes a potential conflict between what the federal government wanted and what state laws required. Overall, this is a straightforward update that gives the Highlands conservation program more money, longer authorization, and more flexibility to work with state and local governments on protecting important natural areas in the Northeast.

Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2022

Maloney, Sean Patrick

Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 This bill extends through FY2028 the Highlands Conservation Act, which provides for land conservation in Highlands states (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania). The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service to add a municipality to the Highlands region upon the request of a Highlands state. The bill revises the way in which land is identified for conservation to require using the best available science and geographic information systems. The bill allows political subdivisions of states to enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior for land conservation projects. A Highland state that receives funds for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5% of the funds to administer that project. The bill extends through FY2028 Forest Service and other Department of Agriculture programs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands region.