Rep. Ted Hill introduces measure to bar ‘foreign adversaries’ from buying land near military ranges

Representative Ted Hill, R.-District 14, told the Idaho House State Affairs Committee that RS 31940 would expand existing restrictions on foreign ownership of certain land types to protect national security and military operations.

"If they fit in that category of foreign adversaries ... they have to go ahead and register within 60 days of enactment of this bill and within 180 days we can foreclose on them and that is for agricultural land only," Representative Ted Hill said. He described the measure as an incremental step following previous bills that limited foreign purchases of agricultural, mining and forest land.

Hill said the proposal would allow the state to pursue foreclosure in narrowly defined cases and create a whistleblower incentive to help identify covered foreign ownership. "If they foreclose it, they get 30% of the proceeds," Hill said, describing the payment as an enforcement incentive. He also cited what he called legal precedent in other states and pointed to an Arkansas case in which officials pursued land tied to a foreign state-owned enterprise.

Committee members asked procedural and scope questions. Representative Crane asked where sale proceeds would go; Hill directed members to the bill text and said distribution is spelled out in the drafting. Representative Harveyari and Representative Alfieri asked for more time and detail at a hearing; Alfieri asked Hill to explain a map Hill provided, which Hill said outlines an expanded military operations area that the sponsor described as needing a "sanctuary" to prevent surveillance or collection activities in training ranges.

During discussion members sought clarification about whether the bill would affect state land leases and eminent-domain authority. Hill said the attorney general would monitor ownership and enforce the registration/ownership requirements and that lease language is intended to cover leasing as well as sales. Hill said the attorney general had reviewed the draft and was "comfortable with it."

The committee recorded a motion to introduce RS 31940 and, by voice vote, carried the motion. The motion to introduce was made on the record during the meeting and the committee chair called for the ayes; the motion was recorded as carried on the committee record.

Next steps: Representative Hill said he will stand by for questions and the measure will be scheduled for a full hearing where members can examine language, maps and how the registration, foreclosure and distribution provisions would operate.

Ending: The committee introduced RS 31940; the sponsor and several members indicated they expect more detailed review at a full hearing, including line-by-line examination of the registration and enforcement provisions.