Grand Canyon Times

The Arizona State Senate passed, without a single Democrat vote, a bill to prohibit China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from owning land in Arizona. 

“Today, Senate Democrats voted ‘NO’ on legislation prohibiting these countries from owning land in Arizona,” the Arizona Senate Republicans posted on X. “The Left’s reckless disregard for the safety of our state and our citizens continues to be on full display through every irresponsible vote undermining our efforts to protect our communities.”

Senate passage of the bill comes after a Grand Canyon Times report last month showing that 9,892 acres of Arizona farmland, most of it in Maricopa and Pinal counties, is owned by Chinese interests.

SB 1403, introduced by Ariz. State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise), would prohibit a “foreign principal from a designated country from, directly or indirectly, purchasing, leasing, owning, acquiring by grant or devising or having any other interest in real property in Arizona.”

“The 2021, 2022 and 2023 Annual Threat Assessments identified China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as countries that pose a risk to the national security of the United States,” said a State Senate Fact Sheet on the bill. 

“If you're part of an organization in a country that the director of the office of intelligence has determined to be a direct serious threat to the United States?” Shamp told NW Valley Times last month. “Then you have no business owning or renting land or any other property here in Arizona.” 

SB 1403 is co-sponsored by Sens. Bolick, Carroll, Gowan and Kerr, all of whom are Republican.

The bill now heads to the Arizona House for consideration. 

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How much land is owned by Chinese interests in your county?

Source: USDA (Detailed data for foreign holdings of U.S. agricultural land through December 31, 2021)

County	Acres owned
Maricopa	1,222
Pinal	8,670