As used in this Part, the terms defined in this Section have the meanings here given to them, except where the context expressly indicates otherwise:

            (1) “Agency of this State” includes the government of this State and any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the government of this State.

            (2) “Commission” or “State Soil and Water Conservation Commission” means the agency created in La. Rev. Stat. 3:1204.

            (3) “District” or “soil conservation district” means a governmental subdivision of this State, and a public body corporate and politic, organized in accordance with the provisions of this Part, for the purposes, with the powers, and subject to the restrictions set forth in this Part.

            (4) “Due notice” means notice published at least twice, with an interval of at least 7 days between the two publication dates, in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation within the appropriate area, or if no such publication of general circulation be available, by posting at a reasonable number of conspicuous places within the appropriate area, such posting to include, where possible, posting at public places where it may be customary to post notices concerning parish or municipal affairs generally. At any hearing held pursuant to such notice, at the time and place designated in such notice, adjournment may be made from time to time without the necessity of renewing such notice for such adjourned dates.

            (5) “Government” or “governmental” includes the government of this State, the Government of the United States, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of either of them.

            (6) “Land occupant” or “occupant of land” includes any person, persons, partnership, firm, or corporation who shall hold title to, or shall be in possession of, any lands lying within a district organized under the provisions of this Part, whether as owner, lessee, tenant, or otherwise.

            (7) “Land owner” or “owner of land” includes any person, persons, partnership, firm, or corporation who shall hold title to any lands lying within a district organized under the provisions of this Part.

            (8) “Nominating petition” means a petition filed under the provisions of Section 3:1206 to nominate candidates for the office of supervisor of a soil conservation district.

            (9) “Petition” means a petition filed under the provisions of subsection A of Section 3:1205 for the creation of a district.

            (10) “Soil health” means the overall composition of the soil, including the amount of organic matter in and water holding capacity of the soil, and the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.

            (11) “Soil health practices” means agricultural practices that improve the health of soils, including but not limited to consideration of depth of topsoil horizons, water infiltration rate, organic carbon content, nutrient content, bulk density, biological activity, biological and microbiological diversity, and minimization of bare ground.

            (12) “State” means the State of Louisiana.

            (13) “Supervisor” means one of the members of the governing body of a district, elected or appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Part.

            (14) “United States” or “agencies of the United States” include the United States of America, the Soil Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, and any other agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, of the United States of America.

            Acts 2022, No. 9, §1, eff. May 13, 2022.