FARMLAND Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would expand federal review and limit foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land. It would broaden CFIUS authority, tighten reporting under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act, and create a public database and enforcement office at USDA.
Show full summary
- Families and producers: Would bar foreign owners and operators from participating in Farm Service Agency programs and allow civil penalties for violations up to 125% of the monetary benefits received. This changes who can receive farm program support.
- Foreign investors and landowners: Would require new AFIDA reports and disclosures and would bring land deals over $5 million or 320 acres (measured over three years) under CFIUS review, increasing scrutiny of large purchases.
- USDA and law enforcement: Would create a Chief of Operations of Investigative Actions to coordinate audits and investigations with DOJ, FBI, DHS, and others, and would require a publicly accessible, audited database of foreign-owned agricultural land within three years.
*Would authorize $35 million for 2025 and $9 million annually for 2025–2029 for enforcement and the public database, increasing federal spending.*
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Foreign owners barred from FSA programs
This bill would bar any owner or operator who is a foreign person from Farm Service Agency programs. Applicants would have to certify they are not foreign persons. USDA could use AFIDA data to check compliance. A foreign person who gets benefits anyway or lies to receive them could face a civil penalty up to 125% of the monetary benefits received.
New reporting and enforcement for farmland
This bill would tighten reporting and enforcement about foreign-owned U.S. farmland. It would require AFIDA reports, a public database within 3 years, and yearly audits and summaries. Parties to land deals would need to do due diligence and certify AFIDA compliance. The Agriculture Secretary could impose civil penalties of 5% to 25% for bad or missing AFIDA filings. The bill would create a senior Chief of Investigations, fund system buildout ($35 million) and ongoing work ($9 million a year).
Stronger review of foreign land deals
This bill would expand national-security review of real estate bought or leased by certain foreign entities. CFIUS review could apply when value exceeds $5,000,000 or acreage exceeds 320 acres and the land is used mainly for agriculture, energy, or critical material extraction. The Agriculture Secretary and FDA Commissioner would join CFIUS. The bill would require an annual CFIUS list of U.S. real estate owned by entities of concern and would add definitions of 'foreign entity of concern' and 'malign effort.' The Treasury must report within 180 days on whether retroactive divestment of PRC-linked property is feasible.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ernst, Joni [R-IA]
IA • R
Cosponsors
Elissa Slotkin
MI • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
FL • R
Sponsored 4/10/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov