Maryland HB 471: Agricultural Land and Programs - Scrutinized Entities

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0471*

HOUSE BILL 471
M4 5lr2474

By: Delegates Chisholm, Arikan, Beauchamp, Fisher, Grammer, Kipke,
M. Morgan, Nawrocki, and Szeliga
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Agricultural Land and Programs – Scrutinized Entities 2

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a nonresident alien who is a citizen of a certain country 3
subject to an embargo under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, a 4
commercial enterprise or business incorporated in a certain country subject to an 5
embargo under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and an individual 6
employed by or associated with the government of a certain country subject to an 7
embargo under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations from purchasing 8
agricultural land or participating in certain agricultural programs; and generally 9
relating to agricultural land and programs. 10

BY adding to 11
Article – Agriculture 12
Section 1–202 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2016 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 16
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 17

Article – Agriculture 18

1–202. 19

A NONRESIDENT ALIEN WHO IS A CITIZEN OF A COUNTRY SUBJECT TO AN 20
EMBARGO UNDER THE FEDERAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS 21
AND LISTED UNDER 22 C.F.R. § 126.1(D)(1) OR (2), A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE OR 22
BUSINESS INCORPORATED IN A COUNTRY SUBJECT TO AN EMBARGO UNDER THE 23
FEDERAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS AND LISTED UNDER 22 24

2 HOUSE BILL 471

C.F.R. § 126.1(D)(1) OR (2), AND AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY OR ASSOCIATED 1
WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTRY SUBJECT TO AN EMBARGO UNDER THE 2
FEDERAL INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS AND LISTED UNDER 22 3
C.F.R. § 126.1(D)(1) OR (2) MAY NOT: 4

(1) PURCHASE AGRICULTURAL LAND, INCLUDING LAND USED FOR 5
RAISING LIVESTOCK, THAT IS LOCATED IN THE STATE; OR 6

(2) PARTICIPATE IN STATE AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE 7
UNRELATED TO REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD OR FOOD SAFETY. 8

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 9

(a) This Act shall remain in effect until federal law no longer authorizes the states 10
to adopt and enforce provisions of the type authorized under this Act. 11

(b) The Department of Agriculture shall notify the Department of Legislative 12
Services within 5 days after the federal government enacts a law described in subsection 13
(a) of this section and, as of the date the law becomes effective, this Act, with no further 14
action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and 15
effect. 16

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 17
October 1, 2025. 18