The Washington State House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill sponsored by 14th District Representative Chris Corry that seeks to compensate ranchers and farmers for financial losses when their state-owned land leases are terminated early.  House Bill 1199 would require the Department of Natural Resources to reimburse lessees when DNR exercises a non-default or early termination provision in a state-owned land lease.  The Department of Natural Resources has an interest in leasing to land-tenants who produce high revenues to provide funding for K-12 school construction and other projects throughout the state.   DNR can use a non-default termination to replace a lessee with a higher-revenue tenant, but when that occurs farmers and ranchers who frequently invest thousands of dollars in the property face financial uncertainty.  Corry’s bill would establish a compensation formula for agricultural and grazing leases, along with other obligations that would support both land lessees and state interests.  The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.  The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to end April 25.