LAND Act

This bill sets a “mirror” rule for buying U.S. farmland. If a foreign buyer’s home country limits Americans from buying farmland there, buyers from that country face the same limits here. State rules still apply. It covers people with dual or multiple citizenships, companies, and foreign governments, with clear rules for deciding a buyer’s “home country.” For companies, the home country is the one with the toughest land-buying rules where that country’s citizens own at least 5% of the company .

Sellers must report any sale of agricultural land to a foreign buyer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA must notify the two Senators from the state and the House member for the district where the land is located. The bill also creates a U.S. Land Protection Task Force, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, to spot violations and report to Congress every six months on foreign purchases, including where land was sold, average prices, the type of land, title history, and whether it’s within 100 miles of a military base. The first report is due one year after the bill becomes law .

Key points

• Who is affected: Foreign buyers of U.S. farmland (including dual citizens, companies, and foreign governments), sellers, and USDA.
• What changes: “Mirror” restrictions based on the buyer’s home country; state limits still apply; required seller reporting; congressional notifications; new USDA-led task force and twice‑a‑year reports .
• How “home country” is set: For dual/multiple citizens, the country with the toughest land rules; for companies, the country with the toughest rules where its citizens own at least 5% of the firm; for foreign governments, the country they represent .
• When: Task force report due 1 year after enactment, then every 6 months.