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HB117 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LEASES OF STATE-OWNED LAND.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LEASES OF STATE-OWNED LAND.

Agriculture Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Carson
Last action
2025-06-11
Official status
Out of Committee 6/11/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify if this act applies only to bids or also to leases already in progress.

Agricultural Leases on State-Owned Land

This act requires the state or its subdivisions to inform the Delaware Farm Bureau when they are seeking bids for leasing agricultural land that is at least 10 acres in size.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the state and political subdivisions of the state to notify the Delaware Farm Bureau about State-owned land being offered for lease if it's used or intended for agriculture and is at least 10 acres.
  • This notification must be given along with any other required notices, not instead of them.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State government
  • Political subdivisions of the state
  • Delaware Farm Bureau

Terms To Know

Agricultural use
Land used for farming or growing crops.
Political subdivision
A smaller government unit within a state, like a county or city.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the Farm Bureau is not notified.
  • It's unclear how this law will be enforced or monitored.
  • There are no penalties mentioned for failing to follow these notification requirements.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA 1

1 • Carson

Passed 5/22/25

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill so that it applies to both short-term and long-term agricultural leases of state-owned land, and adds an exception for renewing existing leases without changing tenants.

  • Adds 'for either a short-term or long-term lease period' after 'land,' to ensure the notice requirement applies to all types of leases.
  • Inserts a new subsection (c) that says the notice requirement does not apply when an existing lease is renewed by the same tenant.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how exactly short-term and long-term periods are defined, which could be important for understanding its full impact.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-11 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in Senate with 5 Favorable

  2. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 117 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  3. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 ABSENT

  4. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Agriculture Committee in Senate

  5. 2025-05-14 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Agriculture) in House with 1 Favorable, 8 On Its Merits

  6. 2025-05-08 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 117 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  7. 2025-04-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Agriculture Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LEASES OF STATE-OWNED LAND.
This Act requires the State and any political subdivision of the State to notify the Farm Bureau when State-owned land is listed for bidding for agricultural use. This requirement applies to land that is at least 10 acres in size and is used or intended to be used for agricultural use. The requirement to notify the Farm Bureau is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other notice required by law.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Carson & Sen. Hoffner

Reps. Collins, D. Short, Yearick, Bolden, Bush; Sens. Lawson, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 117

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 3 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LEASES OF STATE-OWNED LAND.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Part II, Title 3 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 20. STATE-OWNED AGRICULTURAL LAND LEASES

§ 2001. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter “State-owned agricultural land” means land of 10 acres or more that is owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State and that is used or intended to be used for agricultural use as defined under § 902 of this title.

§ 2002. Notice requirements.

(a) When the State or a political subdivision thereof seeks bids to lease State-owned agricultural land, notice of the request for bids must be provided to the Delaware Farm Bureau or successor of that organization to be distributed or made available to farmers.

(b) The notice requirement under subsection (a) of this section is in addition to any other notice required for procurement of bids to lease State-owned property under State or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

SYNOPSIS

This Act requires the State and any political subdivision of the State to notify the Farm Bureau when State-owned land is listed for bidding for agricultural use. This requirement applies to land that is at least 10 acres in size and is used or intended to be used for agricultural use. The requirement to notify the Farm Bureau is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other notice required by law.