Foreign agland ownership bills signed by Gov. Jim Pillen at Husker Harvest Days

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen joined state senators at Husker Harvest Days near Grand Island Wednesday to ceremoniously sign three bills passed in the Legislature this year.

The elected officials took the stage at the world’s largest irrigated working farm show to discuss the bills, two of which impact foreign ownership of the state’s agricultural land.

Sen. Barry DeKay introduced LB1301 during the 2024 legislative session. The law updates prior statutes regarding foreign land ownership.

“My office began laying the groundwork for this legislation last April with the intent of modernizing our state’s existing foreign land ownership statutes, many of which originated as far back as 1889, and were last looked at in the 1940s and 1950s,” DeKay said. “Nebraska has outstanding people, resources, land and water that bring incredible value not only to the state, but also to our country. Ensuring our nation’s food and water security is important… I want to make clear that not every foreign land transaction has malicious intent behind it. At the same time, I believe Nebraska should have a way to respond if foreign adversaries are found possessing land in the state without prior vetting from the federal government.”

The bill also reduces the number of ownership exemptions available to foreign adversaries and stipulates that national security agreements be secured prior to land acquisition projects. The law provides the Attorney General and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) with enforcement authority in these matters.

Another bill discussed was LB1300, introduced by Sen. Eliot Bostar.

Bostar said the legislation prepares supply chains and critical infrastructure for the risk of a possible conflict by creating the Committee on Pacific Conflict. The bill requires a threat assessment and production of an annual report as well as a prohibition on companies from certain identified countries from bidding on state and local procurement contracts.

“Being here, at Husker Harvest Days, celebrating the advancement of agriculture in Nebraska, it’s definitely worth recognizing that if we end up in a situation where there is widespread conflict in the Pacific, what does that do to someone like Nebraska?” he asked. “How do we mitigate the risks that our agricultural community would face in such an event?”

Pillen also highlighted a measure by Sen. Brian Hardin to tighten land ownership protections around military installations. Pillen specifically discussed Offutt Air Force Base, and its importance.

“The folks behind this play a pivotal role in making sure that we recognize foreign adversaries and we recognize the threats to our communities and to our states and neighbors,” Pillen said.

Six countries or foreign adversaries were identified, including China, Cuba, Iran, The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia and Venezuelan politician Nicolás Maduro and the Maduro Regime.

“Within the last few months, there was a North Korean spy ring, as well as a Chinese spy ring shut down inside Cheyenne Wyo.,” Hardin said. “Warren Air Force Base is located there… We actually know for a fact that these kinds of activities are going on.”

Bostar added the bills are examples of senators who may have different views coming together for the greater good.

“All of us work for the best interest of Nebraskans. We’re not enemies,” he said. “We want what’s best, even if we disagree on what that looks like. But especially on the anniversary of September 11, it’s timely to remember that we have enemies. We have real enemies. Not people who disagree about how to best serve the people of the United States or the residents of our state of Nebraska, but people who want to do us harm. People who want suffering. People who want to destroy what we have in America. And that’s really what we’re talking about.”