Farm data on foreign land buyers would go to national security reviewers

What does this do?

HR 8722 would require the Department of Agriculture to share data collected under the 1978 Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act with CFIUS, the federal body that reviews foreign purchases of American assets for national security risks. The two agencies would have one year to establish a formal data-sharing agreement. The bill also requires USDA to update its AFIDA instruction handbook to reflect a 2024 government watchdog report's recommendations, with mandatory revisions every ten years after that.

Who does it affect?

Foreign nationals and foreign companies that own or purchase U.S. farmland are most directly affected, as their reported information would now be sent to a national security review body. Federal agencies handling agricultural land data and foreign investment oversight are also affected.

Why does it matter?

The 2024 government watchdog report found problems with how AFIDA data is collected, tracked, and shared, which this bill aims to address through the handbook update. American farmers and rural landowners could be indirectly affected if greater scrutiny leads to changes in who is able to purchase nearby agricultural land, though the bill does not itself restrict any purchases.

Where does it stand?