WEST virginia legislature

2024 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 5353

By Delegate Thorne

[Introduced January 30, 2024; Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources then the Judiciary]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §19-1-14, relating to prohibiting foreign adversaries from the purchase or ownership of agricultural land in this state.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 1. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

§19-1-14. Prohibition on purchase of land by certain foreign adversaries.

As consistent with 15 CFR 7.4, those groups deemed to be foreign adversaries shall be prohibited from the purchase or ownership of agricultural lands in this state.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit foreign adversaries from the purchase or ownership of agricultural land in this state.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.