Senate committee advances bill to protect agricultural production lands, excludes forestland

Senator Johnson told the Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee that SB 312 "is a protection of agriculture production lands" and framed the measure as important to food security: "we need to be able to to, feed and clothe ourselves." The sponsor said the bill mirrors protections in other states and specifically excludes forest land: "this will not affect forest land."

The bill defines agricultural production to cover cattle, row crops and poultry and is intended to prevent conversion of farmland held for production into nonagricultural uses that would reduce the state's productive capacity. Senator Johnson said current owners are "grandfathered" and may keep possession, but new arrangements that allow nonproduction development would be treated differently. He also told the committee that certain leases involving nonresident or foreign parties would be limited to "10 years at maximum," and that a buyer intending industrial development could still purchase land if the intent was nonproduction.

No members of the public spoke for or against SB 312 during the hearing. After questions and clarifications from committee members about ownership, leasing and grandfathering, the committee voted to pass SB 312 as amended by voice vote. The bill now advances from committee as amended.