SB 2708 Summary

• Establishes a new Agricultural Enterprises chapter authorizing the Department of Agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, and maintain infrastructure on lands under its jurisdiction to support and promote agriculture.

• Creates an agricultural enterprise program separate from existing agricultural park and non-agricultural park programs, allowing the department to accept transfer of qualifying agricultural lands from the Department of Land and Natural Resources upon mutual board approval.

• Establishes the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund to receive legislative appropriations and revenue from leases, fees, and penalties on agricultural enterprise lands, with funds used for infrastructure planning, construction, and maintenance.

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

• Appropriates $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 to the Agricultural Enterprise Special Fund and requires the Board of Agriculture to submit annual reports to the legislature on non-agricultural park lessees' gross proceeds, product types, and sales volumes.