SB 698

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers the managed forest land (MFL) program, under which the owner of a parcel of land designated as MFL makes an annual acreage share payment in lieu of property taxes. In exchange, the owner must comply with certain forestry practices and, subject to exceptions, must open the land to the public for recreational activities. Certain actions relating to a parcel designated as MFL must be recorded by the appropriate register of deeds, and DNR must pay any required fee for the recording.

Under current law, MFL may be transferred from one owner to another with payment of a $100 fee, which is deposited into the conservation fund. Of that amount, $30 is credited to a DNR appropriation for the payment of registers of deeds fees. Land may also be withdrawn from the MFL program with payment of a $300 fee.

Under this bill, $100 transfer fees and $300 withdrawal fees are deposited into the conservation fund and credited to the DNR appropriation for the payment of fees to the registers of deeds.