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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

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Notice Rule for Leasing State Agricultural Land

This bill requires state agencies and local governments to notify the Delaware Farm Bureau when they plan to lease large pieces of public land for farming.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the State and political subdivisions to send a notice to the Delaware Farm Bureau before asking for bids on agricultural leases.
  • Applies only to state-owned or locally owned land that is at least 10 acres in size.
  • Covers land that is currently used or planned to be used for farming purposes.
  • Keeps all existing legal requirements for public notices and bidding processes intact.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The State of Delaware
  • Political subdivisions of the state, such as counties or cities
  • The Delaware Farm Bureau

Terms To Know

State-owned agricultural land
Land owned by the government that is at least 10 acres and used for farming.
Political subdivision
A local part of state government, like a county or city administration.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not say how the Farm Bureau must share this information with farmers.
  • The text does not specify what happens if an agency fails to send the required notice.

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: This amendment updates rules for leasing state-owned farmland by requiring notices for all lease lengths but skipping that step if the same farmer renews their current contract.

  • The law now requires a notice before making both short-term and long-term leases of state land.
  • A new rule says no notice is needed when an existing tenant simply renews their lease without changing who they are.

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.