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S 684 118th Congress Senate Agriculture and Food

This Land Is Our Land Act

Introduced: March 7, 2023 Introduced by: Hawley, Josh Republican · Missouri See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 7, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mar 7, 2023
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This Land Is Our Land Act

This bill prohibits certain entities related to China or the Chinese government from acquiring, leasing, or owning any interest in U.S. agricultural land.

Specifically, this prohibition applies to certain foreign individuals and entities with connections to China, including (1) a business incorporated in China; (2) a person, company, university, or organization that can legally enter into contracts, own properties, or pay taxes on behalf of the Chinese government; and (3) an individual or organization affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party.

An entity must divest itself from any ownership or leased interest in U.S. agricultural land within two years of the bill's enactment. Further, within one year of enactment, an entity must sign a letter of intent to divest its interests in the land.

Under the bill, U.S. agricultural land includes land in a U.S. state or territory that is used for (1) food processing; or (2) farming, ranching, or timber production, including currently idle land that was used within the previous five years for one of these purposes.

The bill establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations and provides for property forfeiture and sale by public auction.

The Department of Agriculture must establish an office to monitor compliance and impose civil fines.

Finally, the bill nullifies any noncompete agreement between a covered foreign entity with an ownership or leased interest in U.S. agricultural land and an employee of the entity.

What's happening now March 7, 2023

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1