Rep. Pucci asks for software to track foreign land ownership, cites 35,000 acres divested

Representative Pucci asked the Criminal Justice Appropriation Subcommittee to consider funding intelligence software to help identify and trace foreign ownership of Utah land. "We have already had roughly 35,000 acres divested," Pucci said, framing the request as a continuation of work to identify properties tied to subsidiaries of the Chinese Communist Party.

Tanner Jensen, chief of investigations for the Utah Department of Public Safety, told the committee the technology would compile overseas open-source business records, translate them into English and map corporate structures. "We found that many times their tactic involves shell companies in trying to disguise the ownership of those companies," Jensen said, and described cases where the tool helped stop a foreign entity from purchasing an airport and prompted other divestments.

Pucci and Jensen said the tool would also assist other investigations, including fentanyl tracking, because it can follow financial flows across borders. Pucci argued that states increasingly must fill national-security gaps as federal action stalls: "More and more national security is going to be left up to the states," he said.

Committee members expressed support. Representative Burton called the work "important" and thanked the sponsor for the effort; Representative Beller described tracking foreign funding and ownership as "crucial for Utah." No formal vote or appropriation was taken during the presentation. The request will return to future budget deliberations with staff for cost estimates and potential bill language.