Sale and management of lands owned by electric utilities.

(1) Lands acquired by an electric utility, as defined in s. 366.02(4), on or after January 1, 2009, which have been classified as agricultural lands pursuant to s. 193.461 at any time in the 5 years preceding the acquisition of the land by the electric utility must be offered for fee simple acquisition by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services through the process outlined in subsection (3) before offering for sale or transferring the land to a private individual or entity.

(2) Lands owned by an electric utility, as defined in s. 366.02(4), on or after January 1, 2009, which were classified as agricultural lands pursuant to s. 193.461 at any time in the 5 years preceding the date of acquisition of the land by the electric utility must be offered for fee simple acquisition by the department through the process outlined in subsection (3) before offering for sale or transferring the land to a private individual or entity.

(3)(a) Within 30 days before offering for sale or transferring lands identified pursuant to subsection (1) or subsection (2) to a private individual or entity, an electric utility must issue a written intent to sell sent through certified mail to the Commissioner of Agriculture.

(b) Within 30 days after the date of receipt by certified mail of the written intent by an electric utility to sell or transfer such land, the commissioner may issue a written intent to purchase via certified mail to the electric utility that issued the intent to sell. If the commissioner declines, or does not issue an intent to purchase within the 30-day timeframe, the electric utility is released from the requirements of this section.

(4) Offers accepted by the department pursuant to paragraph (3)(b) which are received no later than 6 months before the start of the regular legislative session must be executed no later than July 31 following that regular legislative session.

(5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.