In a strong bipartisan action, the Senate voted 65-33 today to pass the omnibus bill that will make the tax incentive for conservation easement donations permanent.  This follows yesterday’s 318-109 vote in the House. This legislation represents a huge win for conservation, for landowners and for the land trust community.  Once signed into law the incentive will be applied retroactively to start Jan. 1, 2015.

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Among other provisions, the bill also renews the IRA rollover (so donors over 70.5 can contribute from their IRA’s.) Today’s vote also reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund for three years and increased its funding from $306 million last year to $450 million this year.