Pody- sponsored legislation to crack down on hostile nations purchasing land

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 2, 2025

(NASHVILLE) As 2025 begins, there are new Tennessee laws that will go into effect. January 1, 2025 will be the first date that certain laws passed by the General Assembly in the last legislative session will go into effect. Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) fought to protect land in Tennessee from hostile foreign nations.

“Last legislative session, the General Assembly passed a bill that prevents prohibited foreign countries from owning or gaining property unless some conditions are met,” said Pody. “Land is extremely valuable everywhere, but especially in Tennessee and we must continue to value it.”

On January 1, the new laws sponsored and co-sponsored by Pody include:

• Protecting Tennessee property from foreign adversaries further protected Tennessee from land being purchased to hostile foreign nations. This bill prevents prohibited foreign parties designated by the federal government from owning or acquiring property in the state unless certain conditions are met. The new law strengthens a similar law passed last year with stricter protections and reporting requirements. Any prohibited foreign party or business that currently owns land in the state would have to divest itself from the property within two years, according to the bill. The Office of Agriculture Intelligence would also be created within the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to collect data and analyze information regarding the unlawful sale or possession of agricultural land statewide.

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