A new bill prohibits non-citizens deemed hostile by the federal government from buying Illinois farmland.
State Senator Sally Turner said the bill aims to alleviate farmers’ fears that land acquisitions by foreign nations and investors may inflate farmland prices and pose a potential threat to national security.
Currently, 24 states have passed similar legislation to manage the risks associated with the purchasing of farmland by foreign entities that may jeopardize national security.
The new bill says that if a foreign party like the Chinese Communist Party buys up agricultural land, there could be a punishment of up to 2 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine upon conviction.
