STATEHOUSE (Feb. 2, 2024) – The Indiana House of Representatives advanced State Rep. Kendell Culp's (R-Rensselaer) legislation to keep Hoosier farmland from being leased or owned by foreign adversaries.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, foreign ownership of U.S. land is up 40% since 2016. As of 2022, over 438,000 acres in Indiana were owned by foreign entities. Culp said as these numbers continue to grow, concerns of food security and national agricultural security are rising.
"Indiana is one of the top producing agricultural states in the country and we need to protect our critical farmland and our control over our food supply," Culp said. "We learned many lessons during the pandemic, including the importance of maintaining our ability to grow and produce things here at home. Hoosier farmland is an indispensable asset to our state and nation, and this legislation is a strong step toward keeping it that way."
The U.S. Department of Commerce maintains a list of adversarial countries, which currently includes Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. House Bill 1183 would bar foreign adversaries from owning or leasing Hoosier farmland and that includes mineral, water and riparian rights on Indiana agricultural land. In addition, an affidavit confirming the purchaser is not a foreign adversary or working with a country that is considered a foreign adversary must be provided at the real estate closing of agricultural land.
Recently, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun and U.S. Rep. Jim Banks submitted a public letter in full support of Culp's legislation.
Culp said several states including Tennessee, California and Texas are working on similar legislation to limit and address the growing concern of foreign land ownership across the country.
House Bill 1183 now moves to the Indiana Senate for consideration. To learn more and follow legislative proceedings, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) represents House District 16,
which includes portions of Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
