House Bill 1 would bar certain foreign‑adversary buyers from acquiring property near military bases and critical infrastructure

Representatives Angie King and Ray Klopfenstein presented House Bill 1, called the Ohio Property Protection Act, in the House Public Safety Committee. Sponsors said the bill would prohibit purchase of real property by persons affiliated with specified foreign adversaries within 25 miles of military installations or critical infrastructure and require an attestation on conveyance forms. The bill also would give local sheriffs authority to investigate suspected violations and refer cases to county prosecutors.

Sponsors framed the bill as a national‑security measure. Representative King said several states have tightened rules on foreign purchase of farmland and other property and cited examples involving potential purchases near military or sensitive sites. Representative Klopfenstein told committee members the bill would capture covert or layered ownership structures through conveyance‑form attestations and local tracking by county auditor offices.

Committee members raised practical concerns and asked for specificity. Vice Chair Miller and Representative Willis asked whether the measure would sweep too broadly, because the bill uses a long list to define "critical infrastructure" and applies a 25‑mile buffer. Sponsors noted some states use smaller buffers (one committee member cited a 10‑mile standard in a neighboring state) and said the bill contains exemptions: U.S. citizens and dual citizens would not be prohibited, and current lawful owners on the federal list would be grandfathered and not required to divest.

Members also asked about economic impacts, engagement with stakeholders such as the Ohio Farm Bureau and how the federal government’s adversary lists would be integrated into enforcement. Sponsors said the bill relies on federal lists for identifying adversaries, acknowledged that deceptive ownership through layers of LLCs is a challenge and said the measure creates an additional local record and investigative avenue.

Committee members expressed both support for protections around military and critical infrastructure and concern about unintended consequences for lawful residents, businesses and recruited professionals. No vote was taken; sponsors said they will continue to work with stakeholders on definitions, exemptions and implementation mechanisms.