Rural and Family Lands Protection Act
and the 
Rural Lands Stewardship Program

The Florida State Legislature has granted authority to create a Resource Conservation Agreement program within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.  Up until now, the Resource Conservation Agreement has been carried out solely through model projects funded by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private funders.

The Resource Conservation Agreement was included in the "Rural and Family Lands Protection Act" (H 1389 and S 1758), an agricultural conservation bill crafted through a cooperative effort led by Florida Farm Bureau Federation and Florida Audubon.

On May 3 the "Rural and Family Lands Protection Act" was added to S 1922, the general bill for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the Rural Lands Stewardship Program, which had been included in the state's Growth Management bill, H 1617. S 1922 was passed back through the House with these amendments early May 3 and then passed the Senate. It was signed into law by Gov. Jeb Bush on June 19.

Details on the Resource Conservation Agreement can be viewed by going to S 1922, (go to "Bill Text, S 1922 ER 5/03/2001," and choose Web Page or PDF) then search the text for "Rural and Family Lands Protection Act" and "Rural Lands Stewardship Program."