(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Conserve” means to permanently protect land from development through purchase, donation, a perpetual conservation or an open space easement, or fee ownership in order to preserve the cultural, historical, ecological, or agricultural value of the land.
(3) “Program” means the 40 x 40 Land Conservation Implementation Grant Program established under subsection (c) of this section.
(4) “Smart Growth Subcabinet” means the Smart Growth Subcabinet established under § 9–1406 of the State Government Article.
(5) “Trust” means the Maryland Environmental Trust.
(b) (1) It is the intent of the General Assembly that:
(i) By 2030, 30% of lands in the State be conserved; and
(ii) By 2040, 40% of lands in the State be conserved.
(2) The conservation goals established under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be accomplished through multiple efforts, including:
(i) Working with local communities, counties, municipalities, American Indian communities, and private landowners to conserve natural places and resources;
(ii) Improving access to nature for all individuals in the State, including communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities;
(iii) Sequestering carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in the lands and waters of the State;
(iv) Increasing public incentives for private landowners to voluntarily conserve and protect areas of demonstrated conservation value and areas that have a high capacity to sequester carbon and greenhouse gas emissions;
(v) Focusing conservation work at a large landscape scale that is biologically and ecologically meaningful;
(vi) Preventing the extinction of native plant and animal species by recovering and restoring the species;
(vii) Stabilizing ecosystems and ecosystem services, restoring degraded ecosystems, and maintaining ecological functions; and
(viii) Increasing economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, fishers, and foresters.
(c) (1) The Trust shall administer a 40 x 40 Land Conservation Implementation Grant Program to support implementation of the goals established under subsection (b) of this section.
(2) Program grants shall:
(i) Be awarded each year on a competitive basis to a nonprofit organization that focuses on supporting the permanent conservation of the lands of the State; and
(ii) Provide at least:
1. $150,000 to the grant recipient for the purpose of providing tools and resources, organizational support, and capacity building to local land trusts; and
2. $100,000 to the grant recipient for the purpose of providing statewide educational conferences and trainings for local land trusts on the topics of easement acquisition, conservation programs and tools, land management and stewardship, and other relevant subjects.
(3) In fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $250,000 to the Trust for the purpose of providing the grants required under this subsection.
(d) (1) In order to meet the conservation goals established under subsection (b) of this section, the Smart Growth Subcabinet, in coordination with relevant stakeholders, shall:
(i) Coordinate the actions of State agencies, local governments, and nongovernmental partners;
(ii) On or before July 1, 2024, develop and publish a plan to meet the State’s conservation goals and update the plan as needed, but not less than every 5 years thereafter; and
(iii) On or before December 1, 2024, and each December 1 thereafter, report to the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and the House Environment and Transportation Committee, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, on the State’s progress toward meeting the conservation goals.
(2) The Smart Growth Subcabinet shall make the annual report required under paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection available on its website.