North CarolinaHB 1332025-2026 SessionHouseWALLET

NC Farmland and Military Protection Act.

Sponsored By: Jennifer Balkcom (Republican), John R. Bell, IV (Republican), Neal Jackson (Republican), Jeff Zenger (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AGRICULTUREARMED FORCESCOMMERCEDEEDSINTERNATIONAL TRADEMILITARY BASESPRESENTEDPROPERTYPUBLICPUBLIC RECORDSRATIFIEDREAL ESTATERECORDATION OF INSTRUMENTSREGISTER OF DEEDSSALES & CONVEYANCESCHAPTEREDAGRICULTURAL LAND

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.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.

Forced sale and lender remedies for violations

Beginning April 1, 2027, the Attorney General can investigate violations and ask a court to appoint a receiver to sell covered property held by a prohibited foreign party. Courts may appoint a general receiver for these sales. Sale money pays sale and receivership costs first, then secured creditors; prohibited owners get no proceeds, and any extra goes to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Secured creditors may bid up to the debt plus costs, and lenders may treat a violation as a loan default. If a prohibited party gets covered land after April 1, 2027 by inheritance, enforcing a lien, or debt collection (beyond a de minimis interest), they must sell it within one year.

Foreign adversaries barred from farmland and bases

Beginning April 1, 2027, entities tied to adversarial foreign governments cannot buy, lease (for one year or more), or hold direct interests in North Carolina agricultural land or in property within 50 miles of listed military bases. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs must publish a map of the bases and 50‑mile lines by April 1, 2027, and update it each year. The law excludes small or passive stakes (like under 10% of a class of publicly traded shares), certain non‑controlling investments, and owners cleared under a federal national security review. U.S. subsidiaries covered by a valid federal security agreement are also excluded.

Buyer affidavit required at closing

Beginning April 1, 2027, buyers of agricultural land or land within 50 miles of listed bases must sign an affidavit, under penalty of perjury, saying they are not a prohibited foreign party. The affidavit must be attached to the deed, using a form set by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. Banks, licensed mortgage lenders or servicers, government lending agencies, and entities subject to federal anti‑money‑laundering reporting are exempt. The register of deeds records the affidavit if provided, but is not liable if it is missing. A missing affidavit does not affect notice, lien priority, validity, or insurability of the deed.

Criminal charge and limits on lawsuits

Beginning April 1, 2027, anyone who knowingly sells covered land in violation of the law, or helps a sale they know will violate the law, commits a Class 2 misdemeanor. The law does not create a private right to sue. Only the Attorney General can enforce these rules through the tools in the law.

Existing foreign owners must register land

Beginning April 1, 2027, prohibited foreign parties that owned covered land before that date (or before their country is added to the federal adversary list) may keep it only if they register with the Secretary of State. The Secretary posts a monthly public list with the owner name, parcel ID, acres, mailing address, and country or state of incorporation. Late filers pay at least $1,000 per day until they file. Unpaid penalties can become a lien on the land and be enforced by the Attorney General. Penalties go to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Jay Adams
Republican • House
Eric Ager
Democratic • House
Jonathan L. Almond
Republican • House
Dean Arp
Republican • House
Brenden H. Jones
Republican • House
Brian Biggs
Republican • House
Hugh Blackwell
Republican • House
John M. Blust
Republican • House
Jerry "Alan" Branson
Republican • House
Laura Budd
Democratic • House
Deb Butler
Democratic • House
Celeste C. Cairns
Republican • House
Grant L. Campbell, MD
Republican • House
Carson Smith
Republican • House
Todd Carver
Republican • House
Charles Smith
Democratic • House
Mike Clampitt
Republican • House
Bryan Cohn
Democratic • House
Mike Colvin
Democratic • House
Blair Eddins
Republican • House
Frances Jackson, PhD
Democratic • House
Gloristine Brown
Democratic • House
Garland E. Pierce
Democratic • House
Wyatt Gable
Republican • House
Edward C. Goodwin
Republican • House
Julia Greenfield
Democratic • House
Pricey Harrison
Democratic • House
Kelly E. Hastings
Republican • House
Chris Humphrey
Republican • House
Kanika Brown
Democratic • House
Keith Kidwell
Republican • House
Donnie Loftis
Republican • House
Carolyn G. Logan
Democratic • House
Tim Longest
Democratic • House
Jarrod Lowery
Republican • House
Nasif Majeed
Independent • House
Jeffrey C. McNeely
Republican • House
Charles W. Miller
Republican • House
Marcia Morey
Democratic • House
Ben T. Moss, Jr.
Republican • House
Erin Paré
Republican • House
Howard Penny, Jr.
Republican • House
Ray Pickett
Republican • House
Dante Pittman
Democratic • House
Renée A. Price
Democratic • House
Rodney D. Pierce
Democratic • House
Timothy Reeder, MD
Republican • House
Heather H. Rhyne
Republican • House
Stephen M. Ross
Republican • House
Mike Schietzelt
Republican • House
Paul Scott
Republican • House
Mitchell S. Setzer
Republican • House
Steve Tyson
Republican • House
Bill Ward
Republican • House
Donna McDowell White
Republican • House
David Willis
Republican • House
Matthew Winslow
Republican • House