The Senate passed Senate Bill 421, a bill MACo supported which would give added flexibility to uses of Program Open Space (POS) funding for jurisdictions reaching approved land acquisition targets. Under the current POS law and practice, counties submit a local Land Preservation and Recreation Plan (LPRP), including land acquisition targets. If a jurisdiction is certified by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Planning, that it has achieved the goals set forth in its approved LPRP, it gains additional flexibility to use POS funds for capital improvement needs on POS-acquired lands.

The bill’s sponsors, Senator George Edwards and Senator Thomas McLain Middleton , are advocates of Program Open Space.