Oklahoma Introduces Bill to Ban Foreign Land Ownership

LOS ANGELES- In an effort to combat illegal cannabis cultivation, Oklahoma legislators have proposed a bill aimed at prohibiting foreign land ownership within the state. House Bill 3125, introduced to the Oklahoma House of Representatives earlier this month and recently advanced to the full Appropriations and Budget Natural Resources Subcommittee on February 19, represents a significant move to address what is perceived as a growing problem in the region.

Sponsored by Representative Danny Williams of District 28, the bill reflects concerns over the involvement of foreign entities in illicit activities, particularly illegal cannabis cultivation. Williams highlighted the issue of foreign land ownership as a pressing problem in his district, noting the association of such ownership with illegal operations that prioritize profit over compliance with local laws and regulations.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN) has reported more than 250 arrests related to illegal cannabis cultivation since 2021, underscoring the escalation of this issue in the wake of the pandemic. OBN representative Mark Woodward attributed a significant portion of these illegal operations to international criminal organizations, including those linked to China, Mexico, Serbia, Armenia, and Russia, with a notable emphasis on the involvement of Chinese organized crime.

House Bill 3125 seeks to empower the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry (ODAFF) to more closely monitor land ownership, ensuring properties are held by Oklahomans or U.S. citizens. This measure is seen as a step toward enhancing safety and accountability in land ownership.

The Oklahoma Farm Bureau (OKFB) has expressed its interest in addressing the challenges posed by foreign land ownership, emphasizing the importance of securing a responsible solution that supports the state’s family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. The state has historically maintained stringent land ownership laws, but loopholes remain that the proposed legislation aims to close.

Governor Kevin Stitt has previously voiced concerns over foreign, particularly Chinese, land purchases in Oklahoma, which led the nation in 2020. Such acquisitions have raised security and economic concerns, prompting a closer examination of foreign influence in the state’s agricultural and natural resources sectors.

Oklahoma’s constitutional prohibition against foreign land ownership has been circumvented in the past through legal and regulatory exceptions, highlighting the need for more robust enforcement mechanisms. The Agriculture Foreign Investments Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA) mandates reporting by foreign entities on land purchases or leases, yet enforcement and modernization of this process have lagged, according to USDA Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montaño Greene.

Additionally, recent legislative efforts have focused on water usage among cannabis cultivators, with proposed bills aiming to introduce metering requirements and usage fees to address the resource’s consumption and management.

This legislative push underscores Oklahoma’s broader challenges and efforts to regulate its rapidly evolving cannabis industry and agricultural sector, balancing economic opportunities with legal and environmental stewardship.