H.B. 324 Summary

• Adds preference rights for agricultural park lot and non-agricultural park land leases to lessees who have made significant improvements that can be amortized or depreciated under accounting principles and provide public benefit while continuing viable agricultural operations.

• Establishes new preference category alongside existing preferences for veterans with honorable discharge, displaced farmers, operators of farms in nonconforming zoning districts, and new farmers.

• Extends agricultural park lot lease preferences to non-agricultural park land leases managed by the Department of Agriculture.

• Allows lease terms to be extended beyond standard limits to accommodate significant improvements made to the property, in addition to existing extensions for mortgage lending or guarantee purposes.

• Applies same lease qualification requirements and transfer restrictions to non-agricultural park land leases as currently apply to agricultural park lot leases.