House lawmakers expect Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposal to ban foreign purchases of ag land will get revealed in the next two weeks.
Some say the reworked proposal will add teeth to existing law that prohibits purchase and ownership of South Dakota agriculture land by those from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia and others.
Republican House Majority Leader Will Mortenson said the bill will enhance the law that’s been in place since the 1970s.
“The soup might not be done cooking exactly on the mechanics of all those and there’ll be more discussion about it," Mortenson said. "It’s an effort that I’m excited we’re bringing back and that we’re going to get right for this state.”
State lawmakers rejected Noem’s proposal last year. That bill created a panel that issued a recommendation to the governor on whether to approve such land purchases.
Many ag groups opposed the idea. Mortenson said the Republican governor’s new proposal takes those concerns into consideration.
According to drafts of the proposed bill seen by SDPB, the attorney general will handle investigations into prohibited purchases.
