# Plain Language Summary: Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025

## What This Bill Does

This bill prohibits people and entities connected to four specific foreign governments—Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia—from buying or leasing agricultural land in the United States. The ban applies to both privately-owned farmland and publicly-owned agricultural land managed by federal agencies. The President would have the authority to enforce this prohibition and impose penalties on violators, including fines and other sanctions under existing emergency economic powers laws.

## Who Is Affected

The restrictions target "covered persons"—individuals and organizations owned by, controlled by, or directed by the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are explicitly excluded from these restrictions. The bill also prevents these covered persons from participating in most Department of Agriculture programs (like crop subsidies or loans) if they own or lease U.S. farmland, though exceptions exist for food safety and health/labor programs.

## Key Provisions

- **Existing holdings**: The bill does not require foreign entities that already own or lease U.S. agricultural land to sell it
- **Reporting requirements**: The bill expands existing disclosure rules to include security interests and leases of agricultural land by foreign investors
- **Penalties**: Violations can result in civil penalties ranging from 15-30% of the land's value
- **Scope**: The restrictions cover all U.S. territories and possessions, not just the mainland

Protecting America’s Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025

Tuberville, Tommy

Protecting America's Agricultural Land from Foreign Harm Act of 2025This bill prohibits persons associated with the governments of Iran, North Korea, China, or Russia from purchasing or leasing agricultural land in the United States.Specifically, the President must prohibit any person (individual or entity) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of these foreign governments from purchasing or leasing (1) public agricultural land that is owned by the United States and administered by a federal department or agency, or (2) private agricultural land that is located in the United States.A person that violates or attempts to violate this prohibition is subject to civil and criminal penalties. This prohibition does not require a person that owns or leases agricultural land as of the date of this bill's enactment to sell that land.Further, the President must prohibit a person associated with these foreign governments and who leases, or who has full or partial ownership of, agricultural land in the United States from participating in Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Exceptions are included to allow for participation in USDA programs related to food safety, the health and labor safety of individuals, or certain reporting and disclosure requirements.The bill excludes U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents from these restrictions.The bill also amends the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) to require reporting on security interests and leases.Finally, the Government Accountability Office must submit a report to Congress on AFIDA.