Landowner Easement Rights Act

HR 2773, the Landowner Easement Rights Act, limits new conservation easements to 30 years and gives current landowners with certain long-term easements (over 30 years old or created before 1977 without a map) the right to renegotiate or buy back their easements. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide landowners with a detailed map and current fair market value notice within six months of a request, then offer renegotiation for a new 30-year term or payment equal to the easement's value minus prior payments (adjusted for inflation). Landowners can also choose to purchase the easement back at fair market value. The Secretary must notify landowners of these rights 3 months before specific milestones related to their easement's status. This directly affects private landowners holding eligible conservation easements managed by the Department of the Interior.