Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025
Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does:** This bill creates a new process for reviewing foreign purchases of agricultural land in the United States. When the Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies a foreign buyer attempting to purchase farmland or agricultural property, it must notify CFIUS (a government committee that reviews foreign investments for national security concerns). CFIUS would then decide whether to launch a formal national security review of the transaction before it's completed. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily affects foreign investors interested in buying U.S. agricultural land, as well as American farmers and landowners who might sell to foreign buyers.
It also expands the powers of CFIUS, which traditionally reviews high-tech industries and critical infrastructure. Supporters argue this protects American food security and prevents foreign countries (particularly those named in the bill like China, Russia, and Iran) from controlling U.S. farmland. **Current Status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting consideration in the Senate. It reflects growing concerns among lawmakers about foreign ownership of American agricultural land, though it gives government agencies significant discretion in determining which land sales pose genuine national security risks.
CRS Official Summary
Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025This bill makes changes to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), including by requiring CFIUS to determine whether a national security review is necessary for reportable agricultural land transactions that are referred by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (CFIUS oversees the national security risks of certain foreign investment in the United States. CFIUS has the authority to review covered transactions, which include mergers, acquisitions, and takeovers that could result in foreign control of a U.S. business; certain investments in businesses involved in critical technologies, critical infrastructure, or sensitive personal data; and certain real estate transactions.)Specifically, the bill directs CFIUS to, after receiving notification from USDA, determine (1) whether a reportable agricultural land transaction is a covered transaction, and (2) whether CFIUS should initiate a national security review or take another action with respect to the transaction. Reportable agricultural land transaction means a transaction (1) that USDA has reason to believe is a covered transaction, based on information from or in cooperation with the intelligence community; (2) that involves the acquisition of an interest in agricultural land by a foreign person of China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran; and (3) with respect to which a foreign person is required to submit a report to USDA regarding their agricultural land transactions.The bill also expands CFIUS to include the Secretary of Agriculture for covered transactions that involve agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, or the agriculture industry (e.g., agricultural transportation, storage, and processing).
Latest Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.