State Powers Committee advances bill treating foreign land ownership as national security issue

Representative Gann introduced House Bill 38 40 on Feb. 4 during the State Powers Committee meeting, saying the measure "creates an entirely new statutory structure to, sections 1 21.1 and 1 21.6" and amends section 1 21 to treat foreign land ownership as "a systemic and national security enforcement problem." The sponsor said the bill would apply to fee land, leaseholds, minerals, easements and mechanisms of control.

Committee members did not ask questions on the report and the chair called for a motion. After the clerk opened and closed the queue with no debate, the chair said the bill would be reported out as a "due pass" and that the vote was unanimous across the board. The transcript records no individual vote tallies or named movers and seconders for the motion.

The committee took no amendments on the floor and did not request further staff work during the meeting. The next procedural step for HB 38 40 is the committee report; the transcript does not specify subsequent committee or floor scheduling.