AFIDA Improvements Act of 2025

This proposal tightens how the government tracks foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. If more than one foreign person owns or transfers an interest in a piece of farm land, each foreign person with at least a 1% stake—directly or through layers of companies—must file a report. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would validate these reports, make sure people follow the rules, and work with the Farm Service Agency to spot violations. USDA would also share these ownership reports with the federal committee that reviews foreign investments (CFIUS) within one year, using a formal data‑sharing agreement. USDA must update its guidance handbook within a year, and then every 10 years, using recommendations from a January 18, 2024 Government Accountability Office report. If a streamlined electronic filing system isn’t in place within a year, USDA must map out the steps and timeline and report that plan to Congress.

Key points

• Who is affected: Foreign persons with at least a 1% ownership interest in U.S. agricultural land; USDA agencies that collect and enforce these reports; CFIUS.
• What changes: 1% reporting threshold; stronger data checks and enforcement; formal information‑sharing with CFIUS; handbook updates using GAO recommendations; planning for an electronic filing system if not up within a year.
• When: Within one year of enactment for the CFIUS agreement, handbook update, and electronic‑system setup or plan; then handbook updates every 10 years.