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Senate panel advances bill to restrict land conveyances to hostile foreign entities after brief public comment
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Summary
The Federalism Committee gave SB 1066 a 'due pass' recommendation after adopting an amendment. The bill would bar conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities hostile to the U.S. and requires identification for grantees; testimony included constitutional concerns from civil-rights advocates and supporters citing national-security risks.
The Arizona Senate Federalism Committee voted 4–3 on Jan. 24 to give Senate Bill 1066 a due-pass recommendation as amended. The bill, as presented to the committee, would prohibit conveyance of land in Arizona to a foreign entity described as hostile to the United States without majority approval from both legislative chambers and would add identification and disclosure requirements for grantees or their agents.
Daniel Lawler, who presented the bill for the sponsor, summarized the measure and an amendment offered by Chair Mark Finchem. “Senate Bill 1066 prohibits land in Arizona from being conveyed to a foreign entity that is hostile to the United States without majority approval from the Senate and House of Representatives,” Lawler said. He also read a 5‑page Finchem amendment that reinserted a prohibition on corporations or associations not qualified to transact business in Arizona from leasing or subleasing state lands.
Public comment: Asa Abousif representing CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) testified in opposition. “SB 1066 is fundamentally at odds with the U.S. Constitution,” Abousif said, arguing the bill raises equal-protection and due-process concerns and could stigmatize immigrant communities. A second signed speaker, Mary Evelyn Simpson, did not appear when called.
Committee debate focused on constitutionality and definitional clarity. Senator Analise Ortiz said the 14th Amendment concerns and the bill’s vague definition of “hostile” were “big red flags” and announced a no vote. Senator Kevin Payne said he voted a “strong aye.” Senator Pritchard (identified in the transcript as explaining his vote) said the restriction targets buyers rather than sellers and defended the bill’s legislative-review mechanism for any future determinations. After discussion, the tally announced by the chair was 4 ayes, 3 nays; the committee recorded a due-pass recommendation.
Why it matters: The bill would add a statutory review for conveyances to certain foreign entities and impose identification requirements on grantees; supporters framed the measure as a preventive national-security step, while opponents warned of potential constitutional and civil‑rights implications and called for clearer definitions.
Actions and vote: The committee adopted the Finchem amendment (read into the record as the five‑page amendment dated Jan. 24, 2025) and then moved SB 1066 as amended to a due-pass recommendation. The committee roll call recorded individual positions during the vote; the chair announced the result as 4 ayes and 3 nays.
Ending: With the committee’s due-pass recommendation, SB 1066 will advance in the legislative process as amended. Committee minutes show members requested additional legal clarity on terms such as “hostile” and noted constitutional concerns raised by witnesses.
