Idaho bill would force foreign adversary landowners to register and bar purchases near key military ranges

Representative Ted Hill, District 14, told the House State Affairs Committee that RS 32150C2 would require ‘‘any foreign adversaries that own agricultural land, mining claims or mineral rights’’ to register that ownership within 60 days and sell within 180 days of enactment, or face foreclosure actions by the attorney general in district court.

The bill also would prohibit purchases or leases of land or dwellings ‘‘near military installations’’ within a defined rectangular region the sponsor described in terms of east-west and north-south miles around active training ranges used for high-end operations. Hill said the rules are intended to keep surveillance and other foreign activity off ranges used for advanced training and that federal actions in other states (he cited an Arkansas action removing 140 acres from a company) illustrate the need for local measures.

Why it matters: Hill framed the proposal as a national-security measure to protect Idaho’s agricultural land, forest land, mining and water rights from foreign-adversary control and to preserve secure training areas. He said the measure would track federal lists of ‘‘foreign adversaries’’—as defined in Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations and updated by executive action—and allow the attorney general to verify and enforce the list.

During committee questions, members pressed Hill on several points: how the bill defines ‘‘foreign adversary’’ (Hill pointed to a CFR provision cited in the draft and said the list is updated periodically), whether a company that sells to a domestic farmer but continues seed trials could reintroduce the banned activity (Hill said that form of ‘‘leasing back’’ could be used as a workaround and acknowledged enforcement limits), and how the proposed whistleblower provision would avoid frivolous complaints (Hill said the bill targets ‘‘specific’’ concerns and that the attorney general would screen claims).

Hill said he had revised the draft to change how liquidation proceeds would be handled—prioritizing lienholders—and to tie the adversary list to the federal regulation. Committee members also noted the bill had been brought before the committee previously and Hill said this was his third version this year with those two issues addressed.

The committee introduced RS 32150C2 on a motion; the motion carried. The RS will proceed through the committee process for further hearing and drafting.

Ending: The sponsor said he expects coordinated federal action on similar issues but brought the RS now to ‘‘get ahead of this’’ for Idaho. The bill will return for formal hearings and drafting as part of the committee process.