S.B. 2839 Summary

• Establishes a new agricultural enterprise program within the department of agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, maintain, repair, demolish, and remove facilities on department lands to support and promote diversified agriculture.

• Creates the agricultural enterprise special fund to receive legislative appropriations and revenues from lease rents, fees, and penalties collected from agricultural enterprise lands and enterprises, with funds used for planning and managing agricultural infrastructure.

• Allows the department to accept transfer of qualifying agricultural enterprise lands from the department of land and natural resources upon mutual agreement and board approval, with restrictions preventing transfer of high-productivity lands (class A or B) for golf courses or country clubs.

• Establishes lease terms for agricultural enterprise lands including minimum 15-year and maximum 65-year terms, requires lessees to derive major income from on-site agricultural activities, and includes provisions for institutional lender rights regarding foreclosure and lease reassignment.

• Creates two new positions (engineer V and land agent V) in the agricultural resource management division and makes an appropriation from general revenues to the agricultural enterprise special fund for fiscal year 2018-2019; effective July 1, 2050.