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AB 543

Revises provisions relating to the lease of certain state real property for certain purposes and the sale of agricultural products produced on such real property. (BDR 26-1133)

2025 Regular Session

Allows State Parks to lease grazing/pasture rights and sell farm products on lands it administers, with proceeds kept in the Account for Maintenance of State Parks and used locally.

Approved by the Governor. Chapter 397.
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Bill Summary · AB 543

AB 543 — Summary (2025 session)

Revises provisions relating to the lease of certain state real property for grazing or pasturage rights and the sale of agricultural products produced on that property; requires proceeds be deposited in the Account for Maintenance of State Parks. (BDR 26‑1133)

Main purpose / intent

Allow the Division of State Parks (within the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) to directly manage short‑term grazing/pasture leases and sell agricultural products produced on state real property it administers, and ensure revenues from those activities are retained for park maintenance and used in the area or region where they were collected. The measure also removes an existing statutory formula used to calculate minimum grazing lease fees.

Key provisions

  • New authority for Division of State Parks:
    • May lease grazing or pasturage rights on state real property assigned to the Division for terms up to 5 years.
    • May sell agricultural products (crops and similar products) produced on such real property.
  • Procurement / price procedures:
    • Leases and sales generally must be advertised for bids, with the Division reserving the right to reject any or all bids.
    • The Division may negotiate with interested parties (including state agencies) under limited circumstances (for example, if the highest/best bid is below an amount that should be paid); a sale or lease to a state agency may be done without advertising only if the agreed price is, in the Division’s opinion, equal to what advertising would yield.
    • The Division may not lease or sell if doing so would interfere with the property's outstanding scenic, recreational, scientific, or historical uses or conflict with any special act governing a particular area.
  • Fiscal direction:
    • Any money received from grazing/pasturage leases or sales of agricultural products on land administered by the Division of State Parks must be deposited in the Account for Maintenance of State Parks (NRS 407.0762).
    • Funds must be accounted for separately by area or region and used only in the area/region where collected.
  • Statutory changes:
    • Amends/conforms internal references to exempt Division of State Parks activity from certain Division of State Lands leasing provisions.
    • Repeals prior statutory provision that prescribed a formula for calculating minimum grazing fees (NRS 322.075).

Who is affected

  • Division of State Parks: gains explicit authority to lease grazing/pasturage and sell farm products on lands it administers and must follow new bidding/negotiation rules.
  • Current and prospective lessees, ranchers, and buyers of agricultural products from state lands.
  • Division of State Lands: certain leasing authorities and processes are modified/excepted where Division of State Parks authority applies.
  • State parks: receives revenue dedicated to maintenance and improvements in the region where collected.

Fiscal and timing

  • The bill has state fiscal effects (directs revenue into the Account for Maintenance of State Parks); local government effects are reported as none.
  • Effective upon passage and approval; enacted and chaptered into law in 2025.

Procedural note

  • Introduced Feb 11, 2025. Approved by the Governor and chaptered into law (2025). The enrolled/reprint versions include an amendment package and conforming statutory changes (see legislative history for detail).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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