Bill introduced to target foreign ownership of Oklahoma land

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) -- At the state capitol, there's a growing concern about pot farm owners who aren't U.S. citizens. On Monday, HB 3125 was introduced in the Natural Resources Subcommittee. If it passes, it would eliminate foreign ownership of property and agricultural land.

"We don't want foreign ownership, especially in the areas of drugs like marijuana," said Representative Danny Williams, R-Seminole.

Rep. Williams said he talked with residents in his district who have seen people buying property, then opening grow houses for marijuana.

"We're not targeting the agricultural world. We're kind of targeting the marijuana world and the proliferation of illegal and not only ownership, but operation," said Williams.

Lawmakers questioned the bill in committee on Monday.

"Canada actually owns 32% of the foreign-owned farmland in the United States. And my last question, and we'll follow it up. Would you have any idea what percentage of the farmland the U.S. that China owns?" asked Representative Jim Grego, R-McAlester.

Williams responded, "Again, the answer is no, I do not. I'm guessing you're going to tell me."

"1%. And so when you take all these foreign owned countries, we're going to try to boot out of here. China is basically one of the very bottom players," said Rep. Grego.

Rep. Williams broke it down further after the bill was heard in committee.

"The concern that I have is more specific to marijuana and other issues," said Representative Williams.

According to the bill, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry estimates it will cost $383,955.40 in the first year.

The Attorney General's office is estimating it would cost $720,000 per year to implement the provisions of the bill. The OAG said the agency would need to hire four additional Assistant Attorneys General and a paralegal.

The OAG also said it would seek appropriations to defray those costs.

"I think it's a politicized answer to what is probably a real problem of foreign ownership of land and the skyrocketing cost of land. But considering cost, this policy comes at a price tag of about $1,000,000 between the cost the AG will incur and the costs that the state will incur to to monitor this. As it moves through the process, I'll be watching it closely," said Representative Forrest Bennett, D-Oklahoma City.

Rep. Williams said there's still a lot to work through and change in the bill, but he's hopeful for the final outcome.

It passed unanimously out of committee today.