Agriculture: Oversight of Foreign Farmland Ownership
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
While there is strong bipartisan interest in limiting foreign land ownership, the bill must pass through four different House committees before reaching a full vote.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Non-citizens who are not permanent residents and who own or operate agricultural land, including many visa holders, are more likely to be classified as 'foreign persons' under the underlying disclosure law. They would face new certification requirements, be barred from federal farm program benefits, and risk civil penalties for noncompliance or false reporting.
“No operator or owner who is a foreign person may be a participant.”
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Randy Feenstra introduced the FARMLAND Act to increase federal oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign entities. The bill targets deals exceeding $5 million or 320 acres and aims to close enforcement gaps in existing disclosure laws.
The FARMLAND Act of 2025 aims to overhaul the oversight system for foreign land acquisitions. Key provisions include expanding CFIUS authority to include food and agriculture, modernizing reporting under AFIDA, and prohibiting foreign-owned land from participating in USDA programs.
As federal and state authorities push for new restrictions on foreign land ownership, the debate has intensified over the impact on land values and investment. The article notes the surge in legislative activity, including the FARMLAND Act, as a response to national security concerns.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
FARMLAND Act of 2025
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