Agricultural land: prohibited foreign actors.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact consequences for foreign owners who violate the law after January 1, 2027.

Agricultural Land: Foreign Actor Restrictions

This law stops foreign people or groups from buying, leasing, or controlling agricultural land in California starting January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

• Stops foreign actors from buying, leasing, or getting a big share of control over farmland in California starting January 1, 2027.
• Does not affect foreign owners who already have land before the law starts on January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

• Foreign people or groups trying to buy farmland in California after January 1, 2027
• Current foreign owners of farmland who bought their land before the law starts

Terms To Know

foreign actor

A person or group from another country trying to buy or control agricultural land in California.

controlling interest

When someone has enough power over a piece of land that they can make big decisions about it, like selling it or changing how it is used.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law will only work if the California Legislature gives money to enforce it.
• It does not specify what happens to foreign owners who break the rules after January 1, 2027.

Official Summary Text

SB 1176, as amended, Choi.
Agricultural land: prohibited foreign actors.
Existing law provides that all property has an owner, whether that owner is the state, and the property is public, or the owner is an individual, and the property is private.
This bill would prohibit a foreign actor from purchasing, acquiring, leasing, or holding a controlling interest, as defined, in agricultural land within the State of California. The bill, among other things, would exempt land held by prohibited foreign actors before January 1, 2027, from that provision. The bill would provide that land transferred in violation of these provisions would be subject to divestiture, as specified.
The bill would make its provisions operative upon appropriation by the Legislature.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF