MS SB2562

Transfers responsibility for managing agricultural leases of prison lands from the Department of Finance and Administration to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, effective July 1, 2015.

Reduces the maximum lease term for agricultural prison lands from 8 years to 4 years, with all leases expiring on December 31.

Requires competitive bidding for prison land leases through advertisement in newspapers, the Mississippi State Agricultural Registration, and the Mississippi Market Bulletin for two successive weeks before the public contract.

Allows existing leaseholders to re-lease land one time at 120% of the current rental value without competitive bidding, or submit a second bid at 105% of the highest acceptable bid if they made improvements to the property.

Removes provisions allowing payment by promissory note and eliminates the requirement that 15% of lease revenue from penitentiary lands be distributed to Sunflower County schools.