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| The table below lists key actions taken by the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means Committee, the White House, the Internal Revenue Service, and Land Trust Alliance in order to increase conservation tax incentives. |
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| 1999 |
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| April |
Sen. Jeffords (R-VT) introduces a capital gains exclusion for conservation sales (S. 808) |
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| July |
Rep. N. Johnson (R-CT) introduces a bill to extend the carry forward period for easement donations and to expand the estate tax incentive for easement donors (HR 2263) |
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Sen. Baucus (D-MT) introduces a bill to extend the carry forward period and increase the available deduction for landowners who donate easements to protect endangered species (S. 1392) |
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| September |
Reps. Portman (R-OH), N. Johnson (R-CT), Matsui (D-CA), and Tanner (D-TN) introduce a capital gains exclusion for conservation sales (HR 2880) |
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Ways and Means Committee hearing on new tax incentives for conservation |
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| 2000 |
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| March |
Rep. Hefley (R-CO) introduces an income tax credit for farmers and ranchers who donate conservation easements (HR 4136) |
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| July |
Finance Committee hearing on new tax incentives for conservation |
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| September |
Sen. Baucus (D-MT) introduces an income tax credit for farmers and ranchers who donate conservation easements (S. 3134) |
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| 2001 |
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| February |
President Bush's budget proposes capital gains exclusion for conservation sales |
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| April |
Sen. Baucus (D-MT) introduces bill to increase the deduction for donations of conservation easements (S. 701) |
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Rep. N. Johnson (R-CT) introduces bill to increase the deduction for donations of conservation easements (HR 1309) |
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| June |
Finance Committee hearing on new tax incentives for conservation |
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Rep. Portman (R-OH)introduces capital gains exclusion as HR 2290 in the 107th Congress |
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| 2002 |
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| February |
President Bush's budget proposes capital gains exclusion for conservation sales |
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| April |
Ways and Means Committee hearing on new tax incentives for conservation |
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| 2003 |
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| February |
President Bush's budget proposes capital gains exclusion for conservation sales |
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Sen. Grassley (R-IA) introduces CARE bill (S. 476) new tax incentives for conservation |
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| April |
Senate passes S. 476 and includes the new tax incentives for conservation |
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| May |
Washington Post publishes article critical of The Nature Conservancy; Finance Committee announces investigation into The Nature Conservancy and related issues |
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| December |
Washington Post publishes article on abuse of conservation easement deductions |
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| 2004 |
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| February |
President Bush's budget proposes capital gains exclusion for conservation sales |
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| March |
The Nature Conservancy releases outside audit of its practices |
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Finance Committee requests documents from The Nature Conservancy |
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| June |
Finance Committee hearing on reforming charities generally; Montana Land Reliance testifies on behalf of land trusts; Land Trust Alliance submits written testimony LAND TRUST ALLIANCE'S TESTIMONY |
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| July |
IRS issues notice 2004-41 on conservation donations LEARN MORE |
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| December |
Sen. Baucus (D-MT) offers new conservation tax incentives as an amendment to FISC-ETI legislation; Conference Chair Bill Thomas rules Baucus amendment non-germane |
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Washington Post publishes an article critical of historic façade easements |
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| 2005 |
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| January |
Joint Committee on Taxation recommends eliminating or reducing the tax deductions for donations of conservation land and easements ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| February |
President Bush's budget proposes capital gains exclusion for conservation sales; also provides for a penalty for easement holders who do not enforce conservation easements ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| April |
Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committee hearings on the Joint Committee on Taxation's recommendations, addressing charities generally. The recommendations on conservation easements are mentioned in both hearings but are not discussed at length |
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| June |
Senate Finance Committee releases its staff investigative report of the Nature Conservancy and outlines recommendations on conservation easement and land donation reforms LEARN MORE |
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Senate Finance Committee hearing on "The Tax Code and Land Conservation" highlighting the staff report; Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth testifies on behalf of land trusts LEARN MORE |
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House Ways and Means Committee hearing on façade easements; land conservation is not discussed ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| September |
Sen. Santorum (R-PA) reintroduces CARE Bill (S.1780) with increased easement deductions and capital gains exclusion ADVOCATES ALERT |
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Rep. Blunt (R-MO) introduces charities legislation (HR 3908); the bill does not contain the CARE incentives, does include forestry pilot program ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| October |
IRS Commissioner Steven Miller speaks at National Land Conservation Conference (Rally) on the challenges facing land trusts and value of private land conservation LEARN MORE (Link to LTAnet; Land Trust Alliance's website for members and partners) |
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| November |
Senate passes S.2020 - The Tax Relief Act of - containing increased easement deductions, modest reforms affecting appraisals of donated property, and a tightening of the rules for easements on historic structures ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| December |
House passes HR 4297 - the companion to S. 2020 - without any provisions affecting conservation |
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Rep. English (R-PA) introduces HR 4589, a bill that would tighten the rules for easements on historic structures. The language in this bill is similar to the Senate passed bill (S.2020) but clears up some technical concerns |
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| 2006 |
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| January |
The IRS issues a revised Form 8283 and revised instructions, including new requirements for easement donors ADVOCATES ALERT |
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Sen. Isakson (R-GA) introduces S. 2187 to create federal tax credits to support the acquisition of conservation easements ADVOCATES ALERT |
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| February |
Senate passes their version of HR 4297- The Tax Relief Act of 2005. The bill is nearly identical to S.2020 and includes the provisions affecting easements |
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President Bush's budget proposes a penalty for easement holders who do not enforce conservation easements ADVOCATES ALERT |
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House and Senate name conferees on HR 4297 LEARN MORE |
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| March |
Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gerlach (R-PA), Simmons (R-CT), and Blumenhauer (D-OR) introduce HR 5056, a bill which contains the Senate's language from HR 4297 (and S. 2020) to enhance the deduction for easement donors |
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Speech by IRS Commissioner Steven Miller discusses conservation easement and IRS priorities at length LEARN MORE |
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| May |
Final conference report on HR 4297 does NOT contain conservation incentive and reforms, nor does it contain any charities-related provisions. Charities provisions remain under discussion for inclusion in a second tax package in 2006 LEARN MORE |
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| August |
The conference
committee decides to do the pensions bill separately from
a tax extender bill that includes estate reforms and a minimum
wage increase. |
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House and Senate pass HR 4, the pensions bill, containing the expanded tax incentive, charitiable reforms, and appraisal reforms!! The language is not exactly the same as what passed the Senate last fall. Land Trust Alliance will be working on interpretation of the language and continually updating the website with more information. LEARN MORE |
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