HB 358: Agriculture; prohibiting acquisition of possessory interest in certain land by certain foreign persons and entities; provide for a definition

Georgia already has a law, O.C.G.A. § 2-1-7, that stops certain foreign persons and entities, such as those tied to countries the law targets, from acquiring ownership or leasing rights (called a possessory interest) in land near sensitive locations like military bases. That existing law did not spell out what counts as a "military installation," which could leave room for disagreement about which sites the restriction covers. This bill adds a new definition to the law. It says a military installation means a facility owned and operated by the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, or Coast Guard that shelters military equipment and personnel and supports training and operations for those branches. The bill makes no other changes to the existing restriction itself; it only clarifies this one term. It also includes a standard clause repealing any conflicting laws.

• Adds a new definition of "military installation" to Georgia's law restricting foreign land acquisitions near sensitive sites (O.C.G.A. § 2-1-7).
• Defines the term to mean a facility owned and operated by the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, or Coast Guard.
• Specifies the facility must shelter military equipment and personnel and support training and operations to qualify under the definition.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with this new definition.

The definition affects how Georgia's foreign land ownership restriction is applied, so it touches foreign persons and entities covered by that law, landowners and buyers near military installations, and state officials who enforce the restriction, such as those in property and land record offices.

By clarifying exactly what counts as a military installation, the bill narrows uncertainty about which locations trigger the state's restriction on foreign land acquisition, helping regulators, landowners, and buyers know more clearly when the existing law applies to a piece of property.

• Section 1 amends subsection (a) of O.C.G.A. § 2-1-7 by inserting a new paragraph (2.1) defining "military installation."
• The definition covers facilities owned and operated by five listed branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
• The facility must both shelter military equipment and personnel and facilitate training and operations to meet the definition.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws, a standard clause with no substantive effect beyond this bill's own changes.

1. 2025-07-01Effective Date
2. 2025-05-14Act 261
3. 2025-05-14House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2025-04-07House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Taken from Table (Senate)
8. 2025-03-31Senate Tabled (Senate)

• Vance Smith (R, HD-138)Primary sponsor
• David Huddleston (R, HD-72)
• Debbie Buckner (D, HD-137)
• David Jenkins (R, HD-136)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-29)

1. PassedHouse voteMarch 3, 2025

   120 yea, 50 nay (7 not voting, 3 excused)

   PASSAGE: House Vote #125

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 31, 2025

   35 yea, 20 nay (0 not voting, 1 excused)

   PASSAGE: Senate Vote #376

• foreign land ownership
• military installations
• property law
• national security