N.C. Senate panel advances bill to restrict foreign farmland buys

A North Carolina Senate committee has moved forward with legislation that would restrict certain foreign entities from purchasing agricultural land in the state.

Senate Bill 394, titled Prohibit Foreign Ownership of NC Land, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday with no discussion, following the approval of a technical amendment. The measure now heads to the Senate Rules Committee for further consideration.

Sponsored by state Sens. Bob Brinson, Bobby Hanig, and Timothy Moffitt — all Republicans — the bill targets what it defines as “adversarial” nations, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Under the proposal, these governments or entities connected to them would be prohibited from acquiring farmland, property within 25 miles of a military installation, or land located beneath special use airspace as designated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

“This bill essentially acknowledges that food security is national security and it’s a state effort to protect our military bases,” Brinson said during an earlier committee meeting on April 16, prior to a one-week recess. While lawmakers reviewed the bill at that time, no vote was taken.

The legislation includes a grandfather clause for existing landowners. Entities from the listed nations that already own affected property prior to the bill’s enactment would be required to register their holdings with both the North Carolina secretary of state and the attorney general’s office.

Brinson noted that twelve other states have implemented similar restrictions, and SB 394 closely mirrors legislation passed in Florida. A companion bill in the state House, HB 133 — the NC Farmland and Military Protection Act — was approved by a unanimous 111-0 vote on April 16 and also awaits further review in the Senate Rules Committee.

Some concerns have been raised about the bill’s potential implications. Sen. Sophia Chitlik, a Democrat from Durham, questioned whether the bill might affect dual citizens. Legislative staff clarified that the bill applies to citizenship status, not nationality, and individuals with U.S. citizenship or lawful presence would not be affected.

Chitlik also raised the possibility of conflicts with the federal Fair Housing Act. Brinson responded that the bill does not target national origin and said its language is carefully crafted to align with similar laws that have not encountered legal challenges.

If signed into law, the measure would add North Carolina to the growing list of states taking steps to restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land — a trend driven by rising geopolitical tensions and growing concern over national food and defense security.

»Related: Foreign land ownership faces increased scrutiny across states