Committee advances bill to force divestiture when foreign adversaries own strategic Idaho land near military ranges

House Bill 3-56, a measure aimed at preventing foreign adversaries from owning Idaho land near federal training ranges and strategically important areas, was sent to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation after sponsor and expert testimony and debate over technical and constitutional issues.

Representative Ted Hill, R., presented the measure and said it builds on other state actions to prevent ownership by foreign adversaries. Hill said the bill is modeled in part on Arkansas Act 636 and would require divestiture if a foreign adversary is determined to own agricultural land, forest land, water rights or mining claims in the areas described in the bill. He told the committee a foreign-adversary owner would be required to sell within 180 days or face foreclosure through…