The Ohio House is expected to review a bill later this year that would prohibit certain foreign countries from purchasing land near Ohio’s military installations or critical infrastructure.
Senator Terry Johnson, a Republican from McDermott, sponsored a bill which has already been approved by the Senate with only one dissenting vote and no opposition testimony in committee.
Johnson expressed his concerns regarding the potential threat to the national security posed by the purchase of land near the state’s military hubs and infrastructure sites by our adversaries. He stated that it is absurd to even consider such a scenario. Johnson also highlighted that communist Chinese firms and companies currently own a staggering 380,000 acres of farmland in the country. According to him, such land should not be sold to those who aim to harm the American way of life.
Under the proposed law, it would be prohibited for individuals, companies, groups, and even government bodies to purchase any land situated within a 25-mile radius of key infrastructure facilities like military bases and airports. This legislation aims to provide enhanced protection to these critical installations.
Under specific guidelines, the Ohio secretary of state will be responsible for creating a list of individuals and entities. The list will be compiled using various sources, such as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s foreign adversaries list and the terrorist exclusion list.
Johnson emphasized the importance of Senate Bill 226 in safeguarding against a clear and present danger. He noted that while some states may not recognize it as a threat to national security, Ohio is fully aware of the risks posed. Moving this bill forward would send a strong message not only to China but also to all of America’s recognized adversaries.
Real estate professionals, such as brokers and agents, can benefit from the personal liability protection offered by the bill. Under this legislation, they are not required to carry out background checks on their clients.
Lawmakers were informed by Evan Callicoat, an Ohio Farm Bureau representative, that there is a bipartisan legislation in Congress aimed at enhancing the current law on reporting foreign land ownership. The bill was co-sponsored by both Ohio Senators, Sherrod Brown and J.D. Vance.
According to Callicoat, protecting farmland from foreign adversaries owning land is just one of the many challenges faced by farmers not only in Ohio, but throughout the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent ‘Ag Census’ reveals that Ohio alone has lost almost 300,000 acres of farmland in the past five years. Unfortunately, in most cases, this land can never be restored to its productive state, making it an exceptional issue faced by the agriculture industry compared to others.
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