1     
STATE LAND PURCHASE RESTRICTIONS

2     
2023 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci

5     
Senate Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

6     Cosponsors:
7     Cheryl K. Acton
8     Carl R. Albrecht
9     Stewart E. Barlow
10     Kera Birkeland
11     Bridger Bolinder
12     Walt Brooks
13     Jefferson S. Burton
14     Kay J. Christofferson
15     Tyler Clancy
Joseph Elison
Matthew H. Gwynn
Katy Hall
Jon Hawkins
Ken Ivory
Tim Jimenez
Michael L. Kohler
Jason B. Kyle
Trevor Lee
Karianne Lisonbee
Anthony E. Loubet
Steven J. Lund
Phil Lyman
Jefferson Moss
Mike Schultz
Keven J. Stratton
Mark A. Strong
Jordan D. Teuscher
Ryan D. Wilcox

16     

17     LONG TITLE
18     General Description:
19          This bill enacts the Restrictions on Foreign Acquisitions of Land Act.
20     Highlighted Provisions:
21          This bill:
22          ▸     defines terms;
23          ▸     prohibits a restricted foreign entity from acquiring an interest in land;
24          ▸     requires a restricted foreign entity to alienate certain interests in land; and
25          ▸     provides that certain interests in land escheat to the state after a specified time.
26     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
27          None

28     Other Special Clauses:
29          None
30     Utah Code Sections Affected:
31     ENACTS:
32          63L-13-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
33          63L-13-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
34          63L-13-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
35     

36     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
37          Section 1. Section 63L-13-101 is enacted to read:
38     
CHAPTER 13. RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN ACQUISITIONS OF LAND ACT

39     
Part 1. General Provisions

40          63L-13-101. Definitions.
41          As used in this chapter:
42          (1) "Interest in land" means any right, title, lien, claim, interest, or estate with respect to
43     land.
44          (2) (a) "Land" means all real property within the state.
45          (b) "Land" includes:
46          (i) agricultural land, as defined in Section 4-46-102;
47          (ii) land owned or controlled by a political subdivision;
48          (iii) land owned or controlled by a school district;
49          (iv) non-federal land, as defined in Section 9-9-402;
50          (v) private land;
51          (vi) public land;
52          (vii) state land, as defined in Subsection 9-9-402(14)(a);
53          (viii) waters of the state, as defined in Subsection 19-5-102(23)(a); and
54          (ix) subsurface land.
55          (c) "Land" does not include real property that is owned, controlled, or held in trust by

56     the federal government.
57          (3) "Restricted foreign entity" means:
58          (a) a company that the United States Secretary of Defense is required to identify and
59     report as a military company under Section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry
60     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-283;
61          (b) an affiliate, subsidiary, or holding company of a company described in Subsection
62     (3)(a);
63          (c) a country with a commercial or defense industrial base of which a company
64     described in Subsection (3)(a) or (b) is a part;
65          (d) a state, province, region, prefecture, subdivision, or municipality of a country
66     described in Subsection (3)(c); and
67          (e) an agency, bureau, committee, or department of a country described in Subsection
68     (3)(c).
69          Section 2. Section 63L-13-201 is enacted to read:
70     
Part 2. Interests in Land

71          63L-13-201. Acquisition of land prohibited -- Exceptions.
72          (1) Subject to Subsection (2) and Section 63L-13-202, a restricted foreign entity may
73     not acquire an interest in land in this state.
74          (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an interest in land that a restricted foreign entity
75     acquired before May 3, 2023:
76          (a) by purchase, grant, gift, donation, devise, or bequest;
77          (b) as security for the repayment of a debt; or
78          (c) as a party to a contract for the transfer or conveyance of an interest in land to the
79     restricted foreign entity.
80          (3) A deed or other written instrument, other than in probate, purporting to convey an
81     interest in land to a restricted foreign entity in violation of Subsection (1) is invalid.
82          Section 3. Section 63L-13-202 is enacted to read:
83          63L-13-202. Alienate within five years -- Escheat.

84          (1) A restricted foreign entity that acquires an interest in land on or after May 3, 2023,
85     by grant, gift, donation, devise, or bequest shall alienate the interest within five years after the
86     date of acquisition.
87          (2) If a restricted foreign entity fails to alienate an interest in land in accordance with
88     Subsection (1), the interest escheats to the state.