H126 - Revise Voluntary Agricultural District Laws. (SL 2025-12)

Overview: S.L. 2025‑12 (House Bill 126) amends the process for State and local agencies and governmental units to condemn or rezone qualifying farmland in a voluntary agricultural district (VAD) by doing all the following:

• Requiring an ordinance establishing a VAD to limit the ability of a State or local public agency or government entity to condemn or rezone qualifying farmland in a VAD by requiring the agency or entity to request that the agricultural advisory board (Board) hold a public hearing on the proposed condemnation or rezoning and submit written findings and a recommendation to the State or local public agency.
• Extending the period within which a Board must hold a public hearing and submit recommendations on a proposed State or local agency condemnation or rezoning, from 30 days to 45 days.
• Prohibiting an agency from formally initiating a condemnation or rezoning action until 120 days after the date on which the Board submits its findings and recommendations to the agency.

This act became effective October 1, 2025, and applies to condemnation or rezoning actions initiated on or after that date.