Relating to leases between local governments and persons using land for farming

This bill requires a farm unit agreement be executed when any lease is entered into by a local government and a person who may use the leased land for farming purposes. The agreement requires the lessee to comply with applicable soil and water conservation practices, farming practices, water quality practices, and soil health practices during the period of the lease. The agreement must be developed in cooperation with the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district where the land is located who are parties to the agreement. The commissioners may conduct inspections to ensure compliance with the agreement and take administrative or judicial action to enforce the agreement’s provisions. The bill does not apply to a lease that is for less than days unless the local government and the same person have entered into multiple subsequent leases involving the same land.3.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.