Senate passes NC farmland, military protection bill

On June 23, the “NC Farmland and Military Protect Act,” House Bill 133, passed in the North Carolina Senate, 43-2, and was sent to the House.  

HB 133 prohibits the acquisition of agricultural lands and other sensitive land, including land within a 50-mile radius around military installations, by foreign governments deemed adversarial by the US Department of State. Nations prohibited are tied to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which the federal government updates. 

An amendment containing clarifying language from the register of deeds and the North Carolina Bar Association was adopted into the bill, Sen. Bob Brinson, R-Craven, said on the Senate floor. 

“This bill is about protecting our food production and force protection for our military bases,” said Brinson. “Over the last 16 months, both HB 133 and its companion, SB 394, have been thoroughly vetted through the committees of both chambers. So now it’s time to send one of them to the governor to become a statute of North Carolina.” 

Sen. Lisa Grafstein, D-Wake, expressed her appreciation for the bill sponsor’s work and ongoing conversations on the bill, but stated she would ultimately vote no, citing ongoing concerns. 

“The issue is really important, obviously — national security and food security are really important,” said Grafstein on the Senate floor.  “I’m going to be a no on the vote on this bill just because I think there are continuing concerns about some of the scope of it and the need to continue to do some work on it. But I really appreciate the ongoing conversation and the effort to protect our national security and hope that those conversations can continue. I also think it’s important that in southern Wake County, which I represent, there is a growing community of Chinese Americans. I think there’s a real need to make sure that we are taking into account the entrepreneurs and others who are coming here to help build their lives and their families’ lives, and that we’re taking those into account.” 

Sen. Kandie Smith, D-Pitt, introduced an amendment on the floor, which was ultimately tabled. Smith stated that while she fully supports the legislation, she believes it does not go far enough.

“If we’re serious about actually protecting North Carolina’s agriculture future, which I know we all are, we need to go a little further,” said Smith on the Senate floor. “That’s why I’m introducing this amendment that does a few simple things. It requires disclosure when large farming operations take on debt from foreign banks. If a foreign government can’t buy our land outright, they shouldn’t be able to quietly hold the paper on it either. North Carolinians deserve to know who’s really got a stake in our fields.”

Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, moved to lay the amendment on the table, seconded by Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke. The Senate voted to table the amendment 27-18. 

The bill passed its third reading with the amendment engrossed and was sent to the House for concurrence with the Senate Committee Substitute. 

“Senate passes NC farmland, military protection bill” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.