The bill, known as General Assembly Committee Bill No. 73, proposes to transfer the oversight of farming activities on state-owned land from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to the Department of Agriculture. Effective July 1, 2025, any farming conducted on state property, including land managed by DEEP, will now fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. Additionally, any lease agreements for farming on such properties will be renewed through the Department of Agriculture and the respective lessor.

This legislative change aims to streamline the management of agricultural activities on state-owned land by consolidating oversight under a single department, thereby enhancing efficiency and coordination in agricultural practices. The bill does not include any deletions from existing law but introduces new provisions to facilitate this transfer of authority.