HB326 • 2026

State agencies, agricultural land; require employment of accredited farm manager.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE A STATE AGENCY OWNING OR HAVING OVERSIGHT OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO EMPLOY AN ACCREDITED FARM MANAGER TO ASSIST THE AGENCY IN LAND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPTIMIZING THE VALUE OF THE LAND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Agriculture

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Lamar
Last action: 2026-02-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

State Agencies Must Hire Farm Managers for Agricultural Land

This bill requires state agencies that own or oversee agricultural land to hire an accredited farm manager to assist with financial analysis and daily operations, aiming to optimize the value of the land.

What This Bill Does

Requires state agencies owning or overseeing agricultural lands to employ an accredited farm manager.
The farm manager will help the agency analyze investments in land and manage day-to-day activities on the property.
Farm managers must provide services like financial analysis, crop production, livestock care, marketing of crops, and soil conservation.

Who It Names or Affects

State agencies that own or oversee agricultural lands
Accredited farm managers who will be hired by these state agencies

Terms To Know

accredited farm manager: A person with special training and certification to manage farms and agricultural land.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass, so it has no legal effect.
It is unclear how many state agencies will be affected by this requirement.

Bill History

2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Died In Committee
2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/28 (H) DR - TSDPCS: AG To AC
2026-01-08 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/08 (H) Referred To Agriculture;Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

Official Summary Text

State agencies, agricultural land; require employment of accredited farm manager.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 326 *HR43/R464* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R464
PAGE 1 (DJ\KP)

To: Agriculture;
Accountability, Efficiency,
Transparency
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Lamar

HOUSE BILL NO. 326

AN ACT TO REQUIRE A STATE AGENCY OWNING OR HAVING OVERSIGHT 1
OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS TO EMPLOY AN ACCREDITED FARM MANAGER TO 2
ASSIST THE AGENCY IN LAND INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND DAY-TO-DAY 3
OPERATIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPTIMIZING THE VALUE OF THE LAND; 4
AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 6
SECTION 1. A state agency or department owning, leasing, 7
administering or having supervision and managerial oversight over 8
agricultural land shall solicit requests for proposals consistent 9
with the best practices provided in Sections 31-7-401 through 10
31-7-423 for the purpose of employing an accredited farm manager 11
to assist such agency or department with applicable land 12
investment analysis and management of the day-to-day operations of 13
the property in order to optimize the value of the land. The 14
accredited farm manager employed by the agency or department shall 15
provide professional management services including, but not 16
limited to, financial analysis and accounting, crop and livestock 17
production, commodity marketing and soil conservation. The 18
services provided to the agency or department by the accredited 19
H. B. No. 326 *HR43/R464* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R464
PAGE 2 (DJ\KP)
ST: State agencies, agricultural land; require
employment of accredited farm manager.
farm manager shall be in addition to the managerial operations 20
relating to the agricultural land being performed by employees of 21
that agency or department. 22
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 23
and after July 1, 2026. 24