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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB139

Alaska Land Ownership Rules for Foreign Adversaries and Military Areas

Last scannedSep 20, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law stops people from countries named as foreign adversaries by the U.S. government from buying or leasing farmland, and it also blocks certain non-U.S. citizens from owning land near military bases.

What it does

  • Creates a new chapter in state law to control who can own or lease specific types of land.
  • Prohibits people listed as foreign adversaries from buying or leasing agricultural land, including mineral and water rights on that land.
  • Bans certain non-U.S. citizens from purchasing or leasing any land within 100 miles of a military installation in Alaska.
  • Allows the Attorney General to investigate violations and ask courts to take ownership of illegally held land through forfeiture.
  • Requires forfeited land to be sold, with money going first to lienholders and then into the state general fund.

Who it affects

  • Citizens of countries designated as foreign adversaries by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
  • Foreign business entities owned or controlled by citizens of those adversary nations.
  • Nonresident aliens attempting to buy land near military bases, unless they are also U.S. citizens.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law does not apply to leases for residential homes or dwelling units near military bases.
  • People who are both U.S. citizens and citizens of a foreign adversary country can still buy agricultural land.
  • Foreign adversaries may keep existing farm leases if they started before July 1, 2025, as long as the lease size does not change.

Plain language

Terms to know

Foreign Adversary
A country officially named by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as a foreign adversary under federal regulations (15 C.F.R. 791.4).
Forfeiture
The legal process where the state takes ownership of land because it was bought or leased in violation of this law.
Military Installation
Any base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for a ship, armory, or other installation under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Defense, Coast Guard, Alaska National Guard, Alaska Naval Militia, or Alaska State Defense Force.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

LAND; OWNERSHIP RESTRICTIONS; AG LAND An Act relating to who may own or hold certain land; relating to certain agreements having to do with critical infrastructure; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) Minutes (SRES)Min
  2. (S) <Bill Hearing Canceled>Text
  3. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  4. (S) Minutes (SRES)Min
  5. (S) Heard & HeldText
  6. (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  7. (S) REFERRED TO RESOURCES681
  8. (S) RES, JUD681
  9. (S) SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE INTRODUCED-REFERRALS681
  10. (S) RES, JUD564
  11. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS564