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Committee tables bill that would curb nonprofit leases of state agricultural lands
Summary
Lawmakers debated and amended a bill that would bar nonprofits from leasing state lands; an amendment narrowed the ban to land classified for agricultural or grazing use, but the committee later voted to table the amended bill 9–5.
Lawmakers in the House Natural Resources Committee debated House Bill 647, a proposal that would prohibit leasing certain state lands to nonprofit organizations.
Committee staff summarized the bill and the proposed amendment that narrows the measure: the amendment would limit the prohibition to state lands classified for agricultural or grazing use and would remove provisions affecting mineral, coal and oil-and-gas leases. Representative Jason (committee staff) explained that the redlined amendment strikes sections related to mining and other resource leases and leaves the prohibition focused on agricultural and grazing lands.
Representative Frantz opposed the amendment and warned it could exclude bidders who would otherwise bid full market value, saying the change "underscores the tension between taking bidders who may bid full market value out of the bidding equation." Representative Koehner and others urged preserving leasing options for new farmers and ranchers so they can get a leg up. Representative Minor said some state trust lands are isolated or surrounded by private property and expressed concern about transferring such parcels to nonprofit control.
After discussion the committee voted on the amendment, which passed 8–6. A subsequent substitute motion to table the amended bill passed 9–5 and the committee tabled HB 647 and returned it to members' packets.
The committee’s transcript records the amendment language, the rationale offered by members on both sides, and the roll-call tallies. The committee did not adopt policy language beyond the amendment; the bill’s ultimate status is tabled pending further action by the sponsor.
