H.R. 8521 – Landowner Easement Rights Act

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 3:27 PM UTC

The Landowner Easement Rights Act stops the Interior Secretary from creating new conservation easements that last more than 50 years. It also gives owners of very old or pre‑1977 easements the right to have those easements renegotiated or bought back at fair market value, and requires the government to notify owners of these rights.

Key Provisions

Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from entering into any new conservation easement with a term longer than 50 years.
Allows a landowner with an “eligible” easement (over 50 years old or created before 1977 without an official map) to request, within six months, a detailed map and the Secretary’s estimate of the easement’s fair market value.
Requires the Secretary to renegotiate the eligible easement to a term of 50 years or less, and to pay the landowner the fair market value minus any amount already paid for the easement, adjusted for inflation.
Gives the landowner the option to purchase back the entire easement or a portion of it at the determined fair market value.
Mandates that the Secretary notify landowners of their right to request renegotiation at least three months before an easement becomes eligible under one condition and at least one year before under another.
Provides definitions for “conservation easement,” “eligible conservation easement,” and “Secretary.”

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 2, 2020

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 2, 2020

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

October 2, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 2, 2020

I

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8521

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 2, 2020

Mr. Peterson (for himself and Mr. Armstrong) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide that the Secretary of the Interior may not enter into certain conservation easements with a term of more than 50 years, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Landowner Easement Rights Act.

2.

Limitation on conservation easement terms

After the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may not enter into a conservation easement with a term of more than 50 years.

3.

Renegotiation of conservation easements

At the request of an owner of land that is subject to an eligible conservation easement, the Secretary shall—

(1)

not later the 6 months after the Secretary receives the request from the landowner, provide to the landowner—

(A)

a detailed map of the easement; and

(B)

notice of the current fair market value of the easement as determined by the Secretary; and

(2)

renegotiate the terms of the eligible conservation easement, including—

(A)

a term not longer than 50 years; and

(B)

payment by the Secretary to the landowner in an amount equal to the fair market value of the easement, as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B), minus the amount paid by the Secretary for the eligible conservation easement being renegotiated (adjusted for inflation); or

(3)

allow the landowner to buy back the eligible conservation easement or a portion of the eligible conservation easement at fair market value, as determined by the Secretary.

4.

Notice to landowners

The Secretary shall notify the owner of the land subject to that conservation easement of the owner’s right to submit a request under section 3—

(1)

not later than 3 months before the conservation easement becomes an eligible conservation easement described in section 5(2)(A); and

(2)

not later than 1 year before the conservation easement becomes an eligible conservation easement described in section 5(2)(B).

5.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Conservation easement

The term conservation easement—

(A)

means a voluntary, legal agreement between a landowner and the Secretary that limits use of the land in order to protect its conservation values; and

(B)

does not include agreements—

(i)

with Indian Tribes; or for

(ii)

related to utilities.

(2)

Eligible conservation easement

The term eligible conservation easement means a conservation easement that—

(A)

has been in effect for longer than 50 years; or

(B)

was put into effect before 1977 without the creation of an official corresponding map.

(3)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.