Senate Passes Bill Clarifying Agricultural Lease Law

COLUMBUS—State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) today announced the passage of House Bill 397 by the Ohio Senate, which would clarify agricultural lease agreements and methods of termination by requiring landlords to provide the tenant with written notice of termination if not originally specified in the lease. "Historically, these lease agreements have been handshake deals or gentlemen agreements between neighbors and community members, and can lead to conflict and confusion when the time comes for termination," Schaffer said. "Nearly half of Ohio's 14 million acres of farmland are not owned by the person farming it, and this bill brings some much needed clarity to those lease agreements." Amendments to the bill would establish the Investing in Ohio Fund, which would allocate $85 million to promoting economic development in the state, including the recently announced $20 billion investment by Intel into Licking County. The bill would also authorize the purchase of OU-Pickerington property by the Fairfield County Commissioners for county offices, including a Sheriff substation and Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The Ohio House concurred with amendments made and House Bill 397 will now be sent to Governor DeWine for consideration.