(The Center Square) — A group of New Hampshire Republicans want to ban China, Russia or other geopolitical adversaries from buying up land near sensitive military sites in the state.
The pending proposal would prohibit the sale of land to foreign interests within 10 miles of a “protected facility” and give the state the authority to seize property belonging to foreign companies or nationals within that boundary. The bill specifically lists China, Russia, Iran, Syria and North Korea as nations that would be prohibited.
“We cannot allow foreign governments to buy up land near our military bases,” Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, the bill’s primary sponsor, said in a recent testimony. “New Hampshire is home to countless organizations that supply our military, and they should not have to worry about foreign intrusion near their base of operations.”
The bill cites specific military installations, including Pease Air National Guard Base in Portsmouth, the Readiness Center of the 197th Artillery Brigade in Manchester and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Businesses and individuals buying or leasing property located within a 10-mile radius of a “protected facility” would be required to fill out an affidavit attesting they are not a “foreign agent” before the land deal is approved. Failure to submit a required affidavit could result in a $500 civil fine, according to the bill. The Attorney General’s office would be empowered to seize and resell any property in violation.
Companies with direct ties to China owned more than 350,000 acres of farmland in at least 27 states as of 2024, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It’s not clear whether any of the farmland is in New Hampshire.
The Biden administration proposed a rule requiring any foreign company or individual looking to buy land within 100 miles of certain U.S. military bases to get government approval.
Concerns about China purchasing U.S. farmland near U.S. military installations have prompted congressional lawmakers to prohibit the transactions. A bill filed by Senate Republicans would prohibit the purchase of public or private land in the U.S. by Chinese citizens or companies.
“For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has been gobbling up American farmland and real estate,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement. “We can’t allow Chinese citizens, or anyone affiliated with the CCP, to own one more inch of American soil.”