The North Carolina House unanimously agreed on Wednesday that hostile governments like China and Russia should be prohibited from buying agricultural land and property surrounding military installations.
In a 111-0 vote, the House approved the NC Farmland and Military Protection Act. House Bill 133 bans foreign enemies from buying farmland in North Carolina amid reports of growing foreign investments in US agricultural land.
“It prohibits adversary foreign governments from purchasing, acquiring, leasing and holding any interest in agriculture land, or real estate property situated within a 75-mile radius of a military installation,” state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, R-Henderson, told the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.
Upwards of 700,000 acres, or 3.5% of agricultural land in North Carolina, is foreign-held, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. In an effort to protect state and national security, bill sponsors said foreign adversaries, such as China, should never be allowed to acquire North Carolina farmland.
🚨BREAKING🚨
The “NC Farmland and Military Protection Act,” AKA HB133, just passed the NC House unanimously 111-0
The bill bans hostile foreign governments, like China and Russia, from buying agricultural land and property surrounding military installations. #ncga #ncpol pic.twitter.com/R9TA7eoytz
— Carolina Journal (@CarolinaJournal) April 16, 2025
The legislation would prohibit foreign governments — that have been designated by the US Department of State as adversarial — from purchasing, acquiring, leasing, or holding any interest in agricultural land or land situated within a 75-mile radius of a military installation. This includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela. It would also apply to a business in which one of these foreign adversarial governments have a controlling interest.
“It is a direct threat to our state and nation to allow China and other adversaries to buy farmland and property surrounding military bases,” said state Rep. John Bell, R-Wayne, previously said. “We must act now to close this dangerous loophole and put a stop to these foreign land grabs.”
Similar legislation was unanimously passed by the House in the last legislative session, though it was not considered by the Senate.
The post NC House votes to ban China, Russia from buying farmland near military bases first appeared on Carolina Journal.