Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE YES on H0221 - State assets, foreign adversaries (posted 02/16/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators (link below):

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

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Current Idaho law prohibits foreign governments from purchasing Idaho forest or agricultural land, water rights, mining claims or mineral rights. Foreign adversaries are under the same prohibitions.

H0221 will further protect military installations and state assets by imposing significant restrictions on property ownership by foreign principals from "foreign adversary" countries (specifically China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and the Maduro regime in Venezuela).

The bill expands upon existing prohibitions: foreign adversaries that own any of these lands, mining claims or mineral rights must sell within 180 days of notice. If they don't sell, assets will be sold by judicial foreclosure. Also, no foreign adversary may purchase or lease any property within certain boundaries near secure military operations.

Our adversaries would never let Americans purchase land, water, minerals within their borders. We must do the same for our own national security.

Specifics:

• Defines "foreign principal" and "foreign adversary."

• Prohibits foreign principals from purchasing or holding controlling interests in agricultural land, forest land, water rights, mining claims, or mineral rights in Idaho.

• Provides limited exceptions for minimal indirect ownership through publicly traded companies.

• Requires foreign principals who currently own such assets to divest within 180 days. Mandates registration with state agencies for any existing land or mineral rights holdings.

• Prohibits foreign principals from purchasing or controlling property within specific geographic coordinates near military installations, with a similar divestiture requirement.

• Allows whistle blowers to report violations and potentially receive 30% of proceeds from resulting asset sales.

• Violating entities face potential judicial foreclosure.

Concerns:

H0221 specifically defines "foreign adversary" countries: China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and the Maduro regime in Venezuela. These foreign adversaries are bad now, but other countries not listed are close behind. Good guys can become bad guys and bad can become good with a single foreign regime change or a different US President.

Perhaps consider replacing “foreign adversary” with “foreign national” throughout. Limit property ownership to “American citizens,” which would solve most problems except indirect ownership through financial or other pressure on American citizens by foreign nationals.