AFIDA Improvements Act of 2025

This bill tightens the rules for reporting foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. Any foreign person who owns at least 1% of a piece of farmland must file a report, even if that stake is held through layers of companies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will also step up checks to make sure the data is correct and to find people who fail to follow the rules. A USDA business center will validate the data and work with the Farm Service Agency to spot violations .

The bill also improves how the government shares and manages this information. USDA must make an agreement with the federal committee that reviews foreign investments so it can share all relevant farmland ownership reports. USDA must update its handbook to follow recent watchdog recommendations and keep it updated over time. If an online filing system for these reports is not up and running within a year, USDA has to map out the steps and timeline to build it .

• Who is affected: Foreign persons with at least a 1% stake in U.S. agricultural land, including through multiple ownership layers; USDA agencies handling the data .
• What changes: Broader reporting to include small stakes; stronger data checks and enforcement; required data sharing with the investment review committee; handbook updates; plan for a streamlined electronic filing system if not already in place .
• When: Several steps must happen within one year of the law taking effect, including the data-sharing agreement and handbook update; ongoing handbook updates every 10 years .