Committee moves bill to restrict research leases of agricultural land from certain foreign-owned entities

House Bill 315, introduced by Representative Scott Sharp, was reported favorably by the Kentucky Senate Committee on Agriculture after the committee adopted a committee substitute. Sharp told the committee the bill is intended "to secure our agricultural land from entities that are identified in 22 CFR 126.1, which are designated as hostile governments," and he noted the measure passed the Senate previously by a recorded 38-0 vote last year.

The committee chair explained he inserted language to allow some agricultural land to be leased for research by ag companies while addressing ownership concerns, naming Syngenta as an example of an ag company that may be foreign-owned and that had been a particular focus for possible research leases. The chair also said he would follow up with the banking community on lien-priority language and planned to offer a floor amendment to address those concerns before the bill comes to the Senate floor.

Committee members moved and seconded the committee substitute (motion by Senator Boswell, second by Senator Webb); the substitute and the bill passed, with the committee recording the passage as unanimous in committee. Committee discussion reflected attention to protecting agricultural land from entities linked to foreign governments under the cited federal regulation, to preserving opportunities for legitimate agricultural research leases, and to resolving lender-priority language as a technical fix before floor action.