States Advance Bills to Protect Land From Foreign Adversaries

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Written By Info PAI

Since day one, protecting American land – especially farmland – from foreign adversaries like China has been one of the biggest goals of the Protecting America Initiative. We’re proud to report that our policy advocacy and paid media efforts are paying dividends around the country.  

This week, we are highlighting four more state bills that are advancing right now with our support.  These bills will further protect Americans and American agricultural land from the ownership or influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Each of the legislative efforts taking place in these states will help to safeguard our country’s food supply chains and ultimately America’s national security. 

Texas Legislation to Restrict Foreign Land Purchases 

Senate Bill 17 has passed both chambers of the Texas legislature, and the Senate is currently considering amendments to the bill passed by the House. SB 17 will strengthen laws against foreign countries buying land in the state and is modeled on legislation around the country that has been supported by the Protecting American Initiative (tracker below). The bill would prohibit countries that the federal government has identified as an adversarial threat to national security. Right now, those countries include China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. 

Michigan Advances Bills to Block China and Russia from Owning Sensitive Properties 

Michigan’s House of Representatives moved a series of bills in early May to increase prohibitions on the sale of sensitive land to foreign countries of concern. HB 4233 would prohibit a “foreign principal” from purchasing or acquiring farmland in the state, while HB 4234 would specifically prohibit the sale of farmland or any property near military installations to China, Russia, or any other countries of concern specified in the bill.  

Ohio Works to Ban Citizens of Foreign Adversaries from Buying U.S. Land 

Lawmakers in Ohio are moving even more aggressively by considering new laws that would bar citizens of adversarial countries from owning U.S. properties. The idea builds on legislation like that being considered in Texas and Michigan. Instead of barring just the governments of enemy nations from buying up American farms, this bill would apply these restrictions to everyone from those countries until their adversarial status changes. The Protecting America Initiative supports this legislation and would help advance it in other states. 

Arkansas 2025 Legislative Session Scores Major Wins Against the CCP 

Arkansas is working hard to become the model state when it comes to implementing laws that protect Americans from the influence of the CCP. Arkansas’ 2025 legislative session saw a number of major wins scored against the communist Chinese Government. Arkansas passed HB 1680, which builds off the success of Act 636 by further restricting businesses owned by China and other nations of concern from owning or leasing land around critical infrastructure. The state also prohibited their state government from buying materials and items from China, set additional requirements for screening by colleges and universities for prospective employees from adversarial nations, restricted colleges and universities from entering into research agreements and cultural exchanges with adversarial nations, and prohibited state funding for colleges and universities with a Confucius Institute. Governor Sanders and legislators should be commended. 

CCP’s Threat to Agricultural Land Remains Real 

For at least five years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been actively attempting to undermine the American economy and gain access to U.S. land. China is openly committed to the long-term goal of world dominance and sees exerting control over aspects of American life as a key to that objective. This includes buying up nearly 280,000 acres of American farmland. We must remain committed to passing protections at the state and federal level. 

Tracking States that are Protecting American Land  

States across the country have protected American farmland with various bills to prohibit the CCP or communist-connected companies from purchasing agriculture or other security-sensitive land. 

The Protecting America Initiative proudly supports these efforts to protect American sovereignty and American jobs from the unfair intervention of foreign communist governments. We welcome Congress’s involvement and urge them to follow the path paved by state legislatures across the country by voting for these protections as soon as possible. 

Info PAI
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