US green cardholders may be prohibited from buying land and owning properties in some parts of Ohio. Legislators in Ohio are debating a bill that would forbid foreign nationals and some green card holders from buying land in sizable areas of the state, reports Newsweek.
This legislation proposes limiting foreign entities’ purchases of certain properties, notably agricultural land and land within 25 miles of military sites and essential infrastructure facilities. The bill is part of a larger national effort to address concerns about foreign land ownership and national security.
Representative Angela King, one of the bill’s sponsors, told Newsweek that if a currently green card holder owns a property, they are grandfathered in; however, they could not purchase new property within the bill’s outlined 25-mile radius.”
A green card or the Permanent Resident Card is proof of your permanent resident status in the United States. It also serves as a valid identification document and proof that you are eligible to live and work in the United States.
Under House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, the proposed ban would apply to both companies and certain non-citizens (such as lawful permanent residents) hailing from countries defined as adversarial.
In line with Florida and Texas initiatives, the law is one of the most comprehensive state-level attempts to limit foreign investment in U.S. real estate. The law may have significant effects on hiring and investment for American colleges, research facilities, and companies that depend on foreign expertise.
Under President Donald Trump’s administration and his immigration crackdown, green card holders—legal permanent residents of the United States—have faced more uncertainty. There have been stories of some being detained at airports or at immigration inspections, and others perhaps facing deportation.
House Bill 1, which was introduced by Representatives King and Roy Klopfenstein, aims to restrict who is eligible to buy land in the Buckeye State. Rentals will not be governed by it.
King stated to Newsweek that “this is about protecting our obligation to keep our power stations, water treatment plants, and gas lines safe from surveillance and espionage.” In order to achieve this, it forbids noncitizens of “foreign adversaries,” such as China, Russia, and Iran, from acquiring property within 25 miles of “critical infrastructure.”
A wide variety of facilities, such as power plants, transit hubs, and military stations, are referred to by this general phrase. Few Ohio locations would still be available for these transactions due to the measure’s wide reach and stringent distance restrictions.
Citizens of the United States or dual citizens are excluded from the bill’s prohibition. Affected persons would have to sell and give up their property within two years, according to the Senate equivalent bill. If the legislation passes, individuals subject to the prohibition would be required to sell restricted property within two years.
The regulations in Ohio are comparable to those in Florida and Texas, where prohibitions on foreign enemy property have sparked legal disputes and national discussion.
Ohio Realtors said in a May 20 statement on its website: “The bill is part of a broader national push to address concerns about foreign land ownership tied to national security. However, as currently written, the legislation would create sweeping limitations that affect far more than high-risk transactions, including everyday residential purchases.”