(a) The state of New York, or any of its agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions, or public corporations (including a public corporation created pursuant to an agreement or compact with another state or the Dominion of Canada); and

(b) The United Nations, the United States of America or any of its agencies or instrumentalities. 2. The tax shall not apply to any of the following conveyances:

(a) Conveyances to the United Nations, the United States of America, the state of New York, or any of their instrumentalities, agencies or political subdivisions or any public corporation (including a public corporation created pursuant to agreement or compact with another state or the Dominion of Canada);

(b) Conveyances which are or were used to secure a debt or other obligation;

(c) Conveyances which, without additional consideration, confirm, correct, modify or supplement a deed previously recorded;

(d) Conveyances of real property without consideration and otherwise than in connection with a sale, including deeds conveying realty as bona fide gifts;

(e) Conveyances given in connection with a tax sale;

(f) Conveyances to effectuate a mere change of identity or form of ownership or organization where there is no change in beneficial ownership, other than conveyances to a cooperative housing corporation of the real property comprising the cooperative dwelling or dwellings;

(g) Conveyances which consist of a deed of partition;

(h) Conveyances given pursuant to the federal bankruptcy act;

(i) Conveyances of real property which consist of the execution of a contract to sell real property without the use or occupancy of such property or the granting of an option to purchase real property without the use or occupancy of such property;

(j) Conveyances of real property, where the entire parcel of real property to be conveyed is the subject of one or more of the following development restrictions:

(1) agricultural, conservation, scenic, or open space easement,

(2) covenants or restrictions prohibiting development where the property being conveyed has had its development rights permanently removed,

(3) a purchase of development rights agreement where the property being conveyed has had its development rights permanently removed,

(4) a transfer of development rights agreement, where the property being conveyed has had its development rights permanently removed, or

(5) real property subject to any locally adopted land preservation agreement; provided that the municipal legislative body exempts from the tax those conveyances subject to such development restriction in the local law adopted pursuant to this article;

(k) Conveyances of real property, where the property is viable agricultural land as defined in subdivision seven of section three hundred one of the agriculture and markets law, and the entire property to be conveyed is to be made subject to one of the development restrictions provided for in paragraph (j) of this subdivision; provided that such development restriction precludes the conversion of the property to a non-agricultural use for at least eight years from the date of transfer, and that said development restriction is evidenced by an easement, agreement, or other suitable instrument which is to be conveyed to the municipality simultaneously with the conveyance of the real property; or

(l) Conveyances of real property for open space, parks, or historic preservation purposes to any not-for-profit tax exempt corporation operated for conservation, environmental, parks or historic preservation purposes. 3. An exemption from the tax which is equal to the median sales price of residential real property within the applicable town or city, as determined by the commissioner, shall be allowed on the consideration of the conveyance of improved or unimproved real property or an interest therein.