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Committee advances bill allowing state expropriation of property owned by "foreign adversaries" near military bases
Summary
SB200 would permit the state military department to seek judicial expropriation of land owned by foreign adversaries near military installations if a court finds a threat to public health or safety; sponsors said the narrowly tailored measure includes judicial review and payment, while experts warned to define procedures and funding. The committee reported the bill favorably.
Senate Bill 200, carried by Senator Hodges, would add a mechanism in Louisiana law allowing the state military department to bring a court petition to expropriate land owned by a "foreign adversary" or agent when ownership is shown to pose a credible threat to public health and safety near military installations.
Sponsor testimony emphasized that the statutory process would require judicial findings before any taking and said the state would have to appropriate money to pay for any property purchased. Michael Lucci, founder of State Armor, and other national‑security experts cited examples from other states and recent incidents to argue for a targeted state tool to address property that could be used to pre‑position hostile capabilities.
Witnesses described safeguards: the petition must be heard by a judge, judicial review and appeals are available, and the measure is permissive (
