NC House Committee Advances Ban on Foreign Land Ownership Near Military Bases
State lawmakers advance legislation blocking adversarial foreign nations from buying land near NC military bases despite stakeholder concerns.
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA — North Carolina lawmakers moved forward Tuesday with legislation to prohibit companies from adversarial foreign nations from purchasing land within 50 miles of military installations across the state.
The House Homeland Security committee advanced Senate Bill 394, targeting companies from China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, and other countries designated by the federal government as “adversarial.” The measure would block these entities from purchasing, acquiring, leasing, or holding any interest in agricultural land and property near military bases.
Senator Bob Brinson (R-Craven) described the bill as an effort to protect North Carolina’s military installations while recognizing food security as a national security concern. The legislation builds on similar measures already passed by the House in April.
Registry and Enforcement Provisions
Under the proposed law, the Secretary of State would maintain a monthly updated registry of prohibited foreign parties that own registered properties in the restricted zones. Companies that fail to register face fines of at least $1,000 per day, with unpaid balances triggering liens on the affected land.
Existing foreign ownership would remain grandfathered under the legislation. Prohibited parties that currently own property within the 50-mile radius could continue holding those assets but would be barred from acquiring additional land.
Opposition Concerns and Trump Connection
Rep. Julie von Haefen (D-Wake) noted that similar legislation emerged across multiple states during President Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign when he highlighted foreign farmland ownership as an issue. However, she indicated Trump appears to have changed his position on the matter.
Senate sponsors continue working through objections raised by several organizations, including the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Realtors Association. Asian advocacy groups in Wake and Mecklenburg counties have also expressed concerns about the legislation’s scope and potential impacts.
The bill now heads to additional committee review as lawmakers address stakeholder feedback while maintaining the measure’s national security focus. North Carolina’s numerous military installations, including Fort Liberty, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, would all be covered under the 50-mile protection zones.
