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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 163 restricts foreign entities and citizens from countries of concern from acquiring agricultural land
Last action · January 16, 2025: Referred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Jan. 16, 2025Sponsors: Barb Gleim and 20 others
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What This Bill Would Do
House Bill 163 prohibits s, political parties, individuals domiciled in countries of concern, and entities organized under the laws of countries of concern from acquiring an interest in Pennsylvania agricultural land. The legislation empowers the Attorney General to investigate potential violations, enforces a $1,000 civil penalty on title companies that fail to verify purchaser eligibility, and mandates the forfeiture and auction of illegally acquired lands.
Enforcement actions by the Attorney General could lead to the forfeiture and public auction of agricultural lands held in violation of the law, with proceeds distributed to cover costs, liens, and the state's General Fund.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Title companies
Title companies involved in agricultural real estate transactions face a $1,000 civil penalty if they willfully fail to determine whether a purchaser violates land acquisition restrictions.
Individuals domiciled in a country of concern
Individuals domiciled in a country of concern who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are prohibited from acquiring an interest in Pennsylvania agricultural land.
Bona fide lienholders
Bona fide lienholders receive disbursements from the proceeds of real estate auctions of forfeited agricultural land in their order of priority.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is prohibited from acquiring agricultural land under this bill?
Are title companies held accountable under the legislation?
Which nations are classified as countries of concern?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 16, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, Jan. 16, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 16 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of Foreign Land Ownership Restrictions
The bill expands existing 1980 restrictions beyond general non-resident aliens to specifically target entities, principals, and individuals from designated 'countries of concern'.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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