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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="8-706" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2031 PER CHAPTER 645 OF 2021" title_number="8" title_name="Soil Conservation" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Cost Sharing -- Water Pollution Control">
  <level label="a">
    <text>To maximize participation in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, in fiscal years 2023 through 2031, inclusive, a landowner who enrolls land planted with a forested streamside buffer shall receive a one–time signing bonus of up to $1,000 per acre of land enrolled.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Signing bonuses provided under this section shall be funded with:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Money appropriated under subsection (c) of this section; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The amount specified in § 9–1605.2(i)(11)(i) of the Environment Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For fiscal year 2024, the Governor shall appropriate $2,500,000 in the annual State budget to fund tree planting under this section and other tree planting programs on agricultural land.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>For each of fiscal years 2025 through 2031, the Governor shall appropriate $500,000 in the annual State budget to fund tree planting under this section and other tree planting programs on agricultural land.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Money appropriated under this subsection is supplemental to and may not take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for tree plantings under this section and other tree planting programs on agricultural land.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
