SB1167 Summary

• Establishes a new Agricultural Enterprise Program within the Department of Agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, and manage infrastructure on department lands to support diversified agriculture and increase agricultural self-sufficiency.

• Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to accept transfer of agricultural enterprise lands and agricultural enterprises from the Department of Land and Natural Resources with mutual agreement and approval by both boards.

• Creates the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund to receive legislative appropriations and all lease rents, fees, penalties, and revenues from agricultural enterprise lands, to be used for planning, designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining facilities.

• Permits the Department to dispose of agricultural enterprise lands by negotiation, drawing of lots, conversion, or public auction through leases with terms of 15 to 65 years, requiring lessees to derive major income from agricultural activities on the premises.

• Appropriates unspecified sums from general revenues and the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund for fiscal year 2019-2020 to establish and support the agricultural enterprise program.