A measure that would ban designated foreign adversaries and actors, including China, from owning Louisiana farmland has been sent to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk after passing the state Senate and House by wide margins.
House Bill 125, authored by Rep. Michael Echols (R-Monroe), passed the House June 8 on a vote of 89-0. The bill would ban the nation’s foreign adversaries – China, Iran, North Korea, the Russian Federation, Cuba and Venezuela – or their agents from owning an interest in farmland in the state.
Supporters of the bill have expressed concerns that hostile foreign entities could threaten the nation’s food supply through their purchase and management of farmland. About 22 states now place some limits on the purchase of farmland by nonresident aliens, foreign corporations or certain foreign governments, according to the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC).
“It is time we begin paying attention to who is buying agricultural land in Louisiana and across the United States,” the state’s commissioner of agriculture and forestry, Mike Strain, told the Louisiana Record in an email. “It is only common sense that we don’t want our foreign adversaries in our backyard and jeopardizing our food security.”
The measure before Gov. Edwards would subject violators to a $50,000 fine and forfeiture of agricultural land acquired in violation of the measure’s provisions, which would take effect Aug. 1. The bill also provides several exceptions to the foreign ownership ban, including when foreign ownership rights are guaranteed under a U.S. treaty or the foreign entity is a “religious, educational, charitable and scientific corporation.”
In addition to Louisiana, Kentucky and Maryland are also considering similar legislation this year, according to the NALC. The interest in passing such laws has occurred in the wake of China-owned companies purchasing more than 130,000 acres of land around a Texas Air Force base and 300 acres near a military facility in North Dakota, the NALC said.