[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6100327,"mediaKeyId","2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd","parentId",2813672,"title","Missouri committee hears bill to limit foreign ownership of state land","audioSeconds",1929,"startMs",48185,"endMs",1977885,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd&start=48&end=1977","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd/thumbnail_48185.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100327/Missouri/Missouri-committee-hears-bill-to-limit-foreign-ownership-of-state-land","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100327-7bae607271ec6223949a1d1b4c8cade6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770125619&Signature=Aj5wJi0rrmzcytBgV1FZbvIyY6F~Ye2PYlw2qkAAi~zzAWKPuM1M6Y7KtMhL0woKJ~5OuLdJ2e5k92~SeQGraGNgi0t35xYYpkzHMtQ~ZfiB5LuttY1ftm6v9p45uLEMHOPjxX5GvPuSeQtpu9d~pFTiYCzpqncoDuVlwvO1T4MKDbwcdW~pTFai~42oa61xlnDPGBx7fJAjM2JKD1r7bs1B0VcozZSIZTRHuvXHAH5Ga9TZmJEaVycmtJ68LXJjwKx5km-uXqgmu3HC47769V~8Xs5-6GN2ePoWW-XzL0BSDDRweo5hARyInnWGIqaFQ-Hc-rHf4TpX38lvOx3iVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Missouri Legislature","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Bill Irwin, District 55, introduced House Bill 993 on the foreign ownership of land, saying the measure would prevent “enemies of The United States Of America” from owning land in Missouri and reduce the share of state land that U.S. allies may hold from 1 percent to 0.5 percent.

The bill would add divestiture authority for the Missouri attorney general and, according to testimony, tie state land reviews to federal sanctions screening such as the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Backers told the committee the change is aimed at national-security risks and to protect military bases and critical infrastructure in Missouri.

Why it matters: Proponents cast HB 993 as a national-security and infrastructure-protection tool that would restrict land ownership by countries and entities the federal government identifies as adversaries. Opponents and some members pressed the sponsor on how the bill would interact with federal lists, how resident aliens and allied investment would be treated, and whether the OFAC process and federal authorities would be invoked in state enforcement.

Representative Irwin said the measure is “really easy to understand” and summarized the bill’s intent: “Bottom line, no enemies of The United States Of America can own Missouri land.” He said the bill would also shrink the allowable acreage held by allied countries and provide the attorney general with authority to pursue divestiture and enforcement.

Mike Hay (witness) told the committee HB 993 specifically references 15 CFR 7.4 and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ list of adversaries. Hay named countries cited in that federal guidance, saying it “lists the enemies of The United States, China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, the Maduro ... regime in Venezuela and the Hong Kong administrative district.” He also testified that OFAC tools are already used in Missouri banking and land-title practices and said giving the state attorney general access to OFAC screening would allow a faster, state-level check of transactions.

Committee members pressed the sponsor and witnesses on several points. Representative Washmore (asked repeatedly) urged use of OFAC rather than a static country list, arguing OFAC’s screening can reveal shell companies operating through allied countries. Representative Washmore also raised concerns about how the bill treats resident aliens and whether permanent legal residents who are nationals of listed countries could buy land; the sponsor pointed committee members to Missouri statute 442.586 and case law tied to the 14th Amendment, saying bona fide resident aliens who establish permanent residency retain the right to hold agricultural land under existing statute.

Other clarifications offered in testimony: HB 993 would require periodic reporting on certain properties, including a five‑year check of property status; the bill’s drafting draws on prior measures such as HCSHB 1957; and supporters said the state must coordinate with federal agencies, including Treasury and the State Department, to make the enforcement mechanism effective.

Supporters at the hearing included Mark Faganbaum of the Missouri Farm Bureau, who said the organization’s policy supports restricting purchases of farmland by adversarial countries. Several committee members and other supporters framed the bill as protecting Missouri agriculture, military installations and supply-chain resilience. No formal committee votes were recorded at the hearing.

The committee indicated it will continue review, including follow-up on how OFAC screening would be integrated into the bill’s enforcement and how statutory language addresses bona fide resident aliens and allied commercial investment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Monday, Mar 24, 2025 7:15 PM - 8:27 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Bill Irwin, District 55, introduced House Bill 993 on the foreign ownership of land, saying the measure would prevent “enemies of The United States Of America” from owning land in Missouri and reduce allied ownership caps.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MO, Missouri","taxId",77693,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6100309,"Missouri bill would foster blockchain use, bar local tax penalties on digital payments",425,3421670,3847605,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd&start=3421&end=3847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd/thumbnail_3421670.jpg","/articles/6100309/Missouri/Missouri-bill-would-foster-blockchain-use-bar-local-tax-penalties-on-digital-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100309-6b91d6dd09e747de0c3a9e638b246b46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770125619&Signature=TviIKXNvIk0Elwh9Zpj7Ml9bVHWaxhToB6-OpkySs8ipWSrwnnat-5gM0vIG4Iop-altp4ljR-DKb8Y-B2laJUjlJUFzu-mHql95zwTCZaBGEzRN-aIsTBoqTjhwkOwI-i5qgpaFkVmFmKpRdRu57SDYPQE2rMoD5oC6WUbNHq3hEwhsI~wVRzRlmAubWkgKdBumwtv2Z4SWwhtQFs3-tSqNxc0N-bqciRYltfhe72ZJvXi4oqQK77Hv4df13qIJnJB3fqQf-nu78ZvbUj2zf56hEaNuIH5GQmWrvmvoFlfiUpQH41pKRSGWfJHbn0vanBABEOqpaGdN048RVJhVKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Burns opened the committee’s hearing on House Bill 1136, a bill the sponsor described as a framework to foster blockchain innovation in Missouri and to prevent state or local governments from imposing additional taxes or charges on digital‑asset payments that would not apply to other forms of payment.

Burns told the committee the goal is twofold: to allow businesses and individuals to accept payment in digital currency without being subjected to new or special municipal taxes, and to encourage non‑crypto uses of distributed ledgers such as supply‑chain tracking or land‑record verification. She emphasized that “not all blockchain needs crypto” and pointed to potential efficiency gains, such as tracing produce origins to reduce waste in food recalls.

Committee members noted that definitions in the four bills heard that night overlap and asked the sponsor to coordinate drafting across bills to avoid conflicting language. Representative Walsh Moore asked about merchant costs and whether businesses would face fees similar to credit‑card merchant fees; Burns said businesses could accept digital currency but would not be required to do so and that practical fee arrangements would likely be a market decision.

Burns and other members said they expect to work across committee staff to harmonize definitions and to ensure consumer protections and local‑government prerogatives are considered while creating a framework to attract digital‑asset innovation to Missouri. No vote was taken at the hearing.","Representative Burns said HB 1136 aims to foster blockchain innovation in Missouri and to prevent municipalities from imposing additional taxes or fees on digital‑asset payments; sponsors framed the measure as enabling private and public uses of ledger technology while committee members flagged definitional overlap with other crypto bills.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6100317,"Proposal to create Missouri Bitcoin reserve draws support and opposition at hearing",448,2732049,3180385,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd&start=2732&end=3180","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd/thumbnail_2732049.jpg","/articles/6100317/Missouri/Proposal-to-create-Missouri-Bitcoin-reserve-draws-support-and-opposition-at-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100317-b605d29bfa0025e5c0f0687f2003272f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770125619&Signature=kkfAgBFV2A1LykxQsAw7x1rPXmvFrq-TWOqh-mzZ-5g9PVvK5TLne5x~JlKbfKnCAMUgc2XtOOWeyadrUtGRTuYBK0LWCLaiQIAmjbS4u-~XulsiwJeaKcZo5gsflNgBxEoN~zavRqKD-SPQFP6qg1woPAkw752CDtmI2zCp8yNRcTP9Gx~9mZlG2ujoANgNFo3uOS0VAdqghYVZFkWqr9JVY0WG~kt8TH1yG~II-fi5yIBfVDxUp2W~IBQzyZ5olUJ2uzxjXhvNMzsMU5vayTkyQvtd6Ln--AnBcNRFJod4v9CWIOK9Gg~H2RD9mfEvoEGqBtv8THCDqKGCIbWXkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Ben Keithley, District 101, introduced House Bill 1217 proposing a Missouri Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund administered by the state treasurer. Under the bill as presented, the fund would be optional, could receive legislative appropriations or donations (including in cryptocurrency), and could accept taxes or fees paid in cryptocurrency with conversion and transaction costs handled per statute or rules.

Keithley said the fund would provide the state another tool to hedge against inflation, diversify investment portfolios and allow Missouri to hold and use cryptocurrency in a controlled way. He told the committee that the treasurer and the legislature would retain discretion over whether and how monies are invested in the fund and that accepted cryptocurrency could be converted and managed under custodial arrangements.

Opposition testimony came from Peter Schneeberger of the Sierra Club Missouri chapter, who told the committee the state should not create a Bitcoin reserve. Schneeberger argued proof‑of‑work cryptocurrencies like bitcoin consume large amounts of electricity and water, produce substantial greenhouse‑gas emissions and cause thermal pollution; he described the environmental and public‑policy risks and called further state support for Bitcoin “a giveaway to Silicon Valley billionaires.”

Committee members questioned how the fund would be capitalized and whether the treasurer would be required to invest state monies in cryptocurrency. Representative Walsh Moore expressed hesitation about state investment in volatile assets; Keithley responded that the fund is optional and that funds would be invested at the treasurer’s discretion and that legislative action would be required to appropriate General Revenue to the fund.

No committee vote was taken. The hearing highlighted competing views: sponsors framed HB 1217 as an optional financial tool for diversification, while opponents described environmental costs and financial‑risk concerns that, in their view, make state backing inappropriate.","Representative Ben Keithley introduced HB 1217 to create an optional Bitcoin strategic reserve fund under the state treasurer; supporters described it as a hedge and optional investment vehicle, while environmental advocates and the Sierra Club opposed the measure citing proof‑of‑work energy and water impacts and concerns about taxpayer exposure.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6100322,"Lawmakers hear bill to license and regulate cryptocurrency kiosks in Missouri",335,1985525,2320685,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd&start=1985&end=2320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813672-783f0898d0ef5e96aa3854bfd9f1b2cd/thumbnail_1985525.jpg","/articles/6100322/Missouri/Lawmakers-hear-bill-to-license-and-regulate-cryptocurrency-kiosks-in-Missouri","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100322-1940d5d51eed974a2a79f03245b9e499/orig.mp4?Expires=1770125619&Signature=e9dXl16gMgMy~9VAKrH0fPg8tjgC79CqSvNFH0LL~6gqZqRN2bt6wkf1DN447mza9nOaHo03Y8dVQ9wG56Z1pXUezj0mi-axkEwwcD5OOX5UksiLl4-8ariXhWlnB-auTybk0Zge-lfREcu25w9m64Fizpx8iV4gO8lm2vJL0iFTD~OLqig3g0LmXU4ObNiBH8EhySE8R1HDHFp0AF~DKt7YPPT4qume21f-ilW3mPIXSMGJJjDFS-uB8YAGey5Y95I~eqdklIwkzRXQ-BP-TuPcz2iso5RV3la0gJbP1~JHhj1uHv98J3PQ~6Wkd8nkMP3PQffLFD2SZ40R68mrqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative David Castile presented House Bill 1428, the \"Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act,\" which would require licensure for operators of virtual‑currency kiosks, require clear fee and scam disclosures on machines, mandate blockchain‑wallet screening to block high‑risk addresses, and require live customer service for kiosk transactions.

Castile told the committee the bill aims to protect consumers who use cash to buy or sell major cryptocurrencies at kiosks, and that Missouri currently lacks licensing or regulatory standards specific to those machines. He said the bill would designate the state Division of Finance as the regulator and require robust consumer protections.

Larry Lipka, general counsel for CoinFlip, testified in support. Lipka said CoinFlip operates about 100 machines in Missouri and a fleet of roughly 6,000 kiosks worldwide. He told lawmakers that while federal laws — including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act — already apply to kiosk operators, Missouri’s financial regulator has not treated virtual‑currency kiosk operators as money transmitters and that a state licensing regime would give Missouri a mechanism to vet operators and protect consumers.

Lipka described practices he said legitimate kiosk operators employ: identity verification for certain transactions, OFAC sanctions checks at the federal level, suspicious activity reporting and currency transaction reporting when thresholds are met, use of blockchain analytics to block transactions to high‑risk wallets, robust in‑house compliance programs and live customer service to halt suspicious purchases. He said the industry finds live customer service effective: CoinFlip stopped about 300 transactions in a recent four‑month period after customers heeded warnings and called support.

Committee members asked about the core problem the bill aims to solve, where federal authorities stand and the relevant reporting thresholds. Castile and Lipka said federal requirements apply but do not substitute for a state licensing and oversight regime that would screen operators’ ownership and compliance programs. Lipka noted that ATM‑style kiosks operate in retail locations and that requiring license review is the state’s primary tool to screen ownership and operations.

No formal action was taken at the hearing. Committee members indicated they may refine definitions and cross‑reference federal law (including the USA PATRIOT Act and Bank Secrecy Act) and consider the appropriate state licensing framework.","Rep. David Castile presented HB 1428 to designate the Division of Finance as regulator of virtual-currency kiosks, requiring licensure, visible fee disclosures, blockchain-wallet screening, and live customer service; CoinFlip's general counsel testified in favor, citing federal Anti‑Money‑Laundering obligations and state licensing gaps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Missouri committee hears bill to limit foreign ownership of state land

Missouri bill would foster blockchain use, bar local tax penalties on digital payments

Proposal to create Missouri Bitcoin reserve draws support and opposition at hearing

Lawmakers hear bill to license and regulate cryptocurrency kiosks in Missouri