HB 458 Summary

• Creates the "Missouri Farmland Trust" within the Department of Agriculture to preserve farmland and provide long-term, low-cost leases to beginning farmers for up to 20 years, with an advisory board and dedicated fund.

• Expands noxious weed definitions from specific thistle species to any weed designated as noxious by the Department of Agriculture director through rulemaking, and prohibits all sales of noxious weed species.

• Increases surety bond requirements for grain dealers from a range of $20,000-$300,000 to $50,000-$600,000, and changes grain purchase threshold calculation from dollar amounts to bushel amounts (50,000 bushels).

• Establishes working capital requirements for grain dealers requiring current assets equal to at least 100% of current liabilities, with allowance for bond increases to offset negative working capital.

• Creates the "Private Landowner Protection Act" establishing legal framework for conservation easements on private land, defining holders, third-party enforcement rights, and validity standards.

• Increases warehouseman net worth requirements from 15 cents to 25 cents per bushel of storage capacity.