A bill that would prohibit any further foreign ownership of Missouri land was passed in the Senate on Monday.
The Senate amended a bill from the House to add an emergency clause and expand the definition of what is included as a foreign business. The bill also requires a 30-day notice to the Department of Agriculture in cases of transfers involving land that is already owned by a foreign entity.
Current law limits foreign ownership of Missouri land to 1% of the total acreage.
Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, argued on the floor that the legislation limited individual property rights.
The vote was 31-3 in favor.
“It’s regulating what private property owners can do with their property. We’re adding additional restrictions to property owners in this state,” said Hough.
Source: agriculture.com
Photo Credit: GettyImages-AlenaMozhjer
Categories: Missouri, Business