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Governor says foreign ownership of land already limited, supports closing 'straw buyer' loopholes
Summary
In response to questions about proposed bills to restrict foreign (including Chinese) ownership of Oklahoma land, the governor said it is already illegal for Chinese nationals to own certain land and that the state should close loopholes involving 'straw buyers' and coordinate with federal partners.
A reporter asked about legislative measures that would restrict foreign entities from owning certain kinds of land in Oklahoma. The governor said "it's already illegal to own, having a foreign national, Chinese national to own land in Oklahoma" and that his administration is investigating "straw buyer situations" and ways to hold people accountable.
He said the larger concern nationally is protecting critical infrastructure such as military bases and electricity generation. The governor said he favors involving federal agencies, noting federal authorities and laws — including those addressing money flows — are needed to fully address the problem. "We need help from our federal partners on that. We can't do that all on the state side," he said.
The governor expressed opposition to bills that would "grow government" but said he supports close scrutiny of foreign investment in critical infrastructure. He mentioned proposals limiting foreign ownership of certain farmland to no more than 25% as an example of a complex policy that may require federal input.
Ending: the governor invited law enforcement to provide further details and said the administration would follow up with the reporter on specifics.
Note: the governor referenced an executive order directing agencies to examine foreign investment and supply-chain risks but did not cite a specific statute or bill number during the briefing.
