Current:Home > InvestGeorgia governor signs bill into law restricting land sales to some Chinese citizens-LoTradeCoin
Georgia governor signs bill into law restricting land sales to some Chinese citizens
View Date:2024-12-24 00:38:05
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed a bill into law limiting the ability of some Chinese citizens to buy land in the state.
The bill, SB420, echoes measures already signed into law in numerous other states. It bans any “agent” of China from buying farmland in Georgia or any commercial land near military installations.
Democrats in the state Legislature had blasted SB420 as discriminatory, but at a bill-signing ceremony in the southern city of Valdosta, the Republican governor touted it as a national security measure.
“We cannot allow foreign adversaries to control something as critical to our survival as our food supply,” Kemp said.
Critics said the measure — and others like it — reflected xenophobia and would harm immigrant communities.
“By signing this bill, Governor Kemp is shirking his responsibility to protect the equality, civil rights and constitutional right to due process of all Georgians and is instead engaging in anti-Asian scapegoating and anti-immigrant fearmongering,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit opposed to discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
The law bans agents of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia who are not U.S. citizens or legal residents from owning farmland in Georgia or any commercial land in the state that is within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of a military installation unless they have spent at least 10 months of the previous year living in Georgia.
Though the measure targets other countries, much of the discussion about it among lawmakers at the state Capitol focused on China.
To be an agent, the person has to be acting on behalf of the country. The ban extends to businesses in those countries as well, but does not apply to residential property.
Other critics warned that the bill could face legal hurdles.
“In time, we will see that this bill preempts federal law and violates people’s constitutional protections,” said Thong (T-AH-m) Phan, with the Atlanta chapter of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
States including Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Arkansas passed similar bans last year, and Democrats have also raised concerns about Chinese ownership of farmland in the U.S. and supported such measures.
The laws gained traction after what authorities suspected to be a Chinese spy balloon flew over the U.S. and entities connected to China purchased land near military bases in North Dakota and Texas.
Kemp also signed several other bills Tuesday, including one banning the sale of CBD and other consumable hemp products to people under 21 and requiring the products’ manufacturers to measure and list the quantity of THC and other compounds they contain. THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana.
A second measure toughens penalties for people who make or sell drugs laced with fentanyl that lead to someone’s death. Under SB465, they would be subject to a felony charge of aggravated involuntary manslaughter.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is often added to other drugs and has become a major contributor to overdose deaths in the U.S.
Georgia’s bill is named after Austin Walters, who died in 2021 after taking a pill laced with fentanyl.
“Austin’s Law will help save the lives of Georgians by fighting back against the criminals that traffic these deadly substances,” Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said in a statement after the bill was signed.
veryGood! (354)
Related
- World leaders aim to shape Earth's future at COP29 climate change summit
- Coinbase lays off around 20% of its workforce as crypto downturn continues
- How to keep your New Year's resolutions (Encore)
- Michael Cera Recalls How He Almost Married Aubrey Plaza
- Why Dolly Parton Is a Fan of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Little Love Affair
- A golden age for nonalcoholic beers, wines and spirits
- At One of America’s Most Toxic Superfund Sites, Climate Change Imperils More Than Cleanup
- Fossil Fuel Advocates’ New Tactic: Calling Opposition to Arctic Drilling ‘Racist’
- Mississippi man charged with shooting 5 people after not being allowed into party
- Get a $120 Barefoot Dreams Blanket for $30 Before It Sells Out, Again
Ranking
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Red Velvet, Please
- Billions in NIH grants could be jeopardized by appointments snafu, Republicans say
- See the Major Honor King Charles III Just Gave Queen Camilla
- Tesla's stock lost over $700 billion in value. Elon Musk's Twitter deal didn't help
- It's cozy gaming season! Video game updates you may have missed, including Stardew Valley
- Today's Al Roker Reflects on Health Scares in Emotional Father's Day Tribute
- Opioid settlement pushes Walgreens to a $3.7 billion loss in the first quarter
- New York’s Heat-Vulnerable Neighborhoods Need to Go Green to Cool Off
Recommendation
-
The White Stripes drop lawsuit against Donald Trump over 'Seven Nation Army' use
-
Buying a home became a key way to build wealth. What happens if you can't afford to?
-
Long Island Medium Star Theresa Caputo’s Son Larry Caputo Jr. Marries Leah Munch in Italy
-
An Oil Giant’s Wall Street Fall: The World is Sending the Industry Signals, but is Exxon Listening?
-
Review: 'Emilia Pérez' is the most wildly original film you'll see in 2024
-
Clothes That Show Your Pride: Rainbow Fleece Pants, Sweaters, Workout Leggings & More
-
Battered, Flooded and Submerged: Many Superfund Sites are Dangerously Threatened by Climate Change
-
Billions in NIH grants could be jeopardized by appointments snafu, Republicans say