Senate tweaks foreign land ownership bill; sends back to House for consideration

The Missouri Senate has passed proposed restrictions on the foreign ownership of land. 

Under the latest version, a foreign entity would be banned from acquiring agricultural land in the state after August 28, 2023. 

Currently, one-percent of land can be owned by foreign entities. 

The discussion over the bill became heated, at times, as state Senators Bill Eigel and Lincoln Hough, both Republicans, turned it into a discussion of national security versus private property rights. 

According to Republican Senator Rick Brattin, foreign businesses who currently own land in Missouri would not have to sell their property. 

Because of the changes made to the bill, it goes back to the House for consideration.