May 22, 2023 Group Watch: Chinese Property Ban Bill Changed
On Wednesday, the Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Conservation Committee rewrote and adopted a substitute version of a bill that would have banned Chinese citizens from buying property in Alabama, including those who live and work legally in the state, a proposal that drew opposition after passing the House. The substitute bill would not ban Chinese citizens who live in Alabama from buying property but narrows the bill’s focus, banning the governments of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from buying property in Alabama that is used for agricultural or forestry or that is within 10 miles of a military base or critical infrastructure like power plants, water and sewer treatment plants, gas processing centers, seaports and airports. The substitute version would also apply to a person, country or government identified on any sanctions list of the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The Senate committee substitute passed the Senate, and the revised bill returns to the House for concurrence.
