New legislation in Tennessee is set to come into effect at the beginning of 2025, following the recent session of the General Assembly. Among the various laws passed, some will be implemented on January 1, 2025. Senator Page Walley, a Republican representing Savannah, has been a strong advocate for safeguarding land in Tennessee from potentially hostile foreign interests. This new law aims to restrict foreign entities from acquiring property within the state, thereby enhancing the protection of Tennessee’s land from adversarial foreign nations.
Under the provisions of this law, foreign parties identified by the federal government will be prohibited from purchasing property in Tennessee unless they meet certain criteria. This legislation builds upon a similar law enacted last year, but it introduces more rigorous reporting requirements and protective measures. Notably, the new statute mandates that any foreign company or entity that currently owns land in Tennessee must divest itself of that property within a two-year timeframe.
In addition to these measures, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture is set to create the Office of Agriculture Intelligence. This office will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data related to the illegal acquisition or ownership of agricultural land across the state, further bolstering the state’s efforts to protect its land from foreign influence.