COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Immigration and civil rights advocates are raising concerns about a bill that would put new restrictions on certain foreign citizens buying land in Ohio.
If passed, House Bill 1—also called the Ohio Property Protection Act—would prohibit the citizens of nations the federal government has designated as “foreign adversaries” from buying land within ten miles of critical infrastructure facilities.
“The expanding footprint of foreign adversary real estate ownership in the U.S. is generating significant national security and food security with fears of economic surveillance and critical infrastructure manipulation,” Rep. Angie King (R-Celina) said when introducing H.B. 1 in March. “As legislators, we have a responsibility to protect Ohio from those who seek to undermine and destroy our American values and way of life.”…