The House agreed to an amendment on April 30, 2026, that would direct federal agencies to prohibit certain foreign-adversary and state-sponsor-of-terrorism categories—and specified affiliates—from buying U.S. agricultural land. It was an amendment to a bill, not proof that the proposed ban became law. The amendment passed by voice vote, with no separate recorded tally identified in the Congressional Record.
What the House amendment would do
Representative Greg Steube offered the amendment during consideration of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. Its text directs the President to instruct federal departments and agencies to issue rules prohibiting purchases of agricultural land located in the United States by:
- A foreign adversary;
- A state sponsor of terrorism;
- An agent or instrumentality of either; or
- A person owned or controlled by, or affiliated with, either category.
The amendment defines agricultural land by reference to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978 (AFIDA). Its proposed definition of a foreign adversary covers a foreign government or non-government person engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to U.S. national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons. Its state-sponsor category relies on determinations by the Secretary of State under specified statutes. The text applies across the states and U.S. territories listed in the amendment. Read the amendment text in the Congressional Record.
The Rules Committee listed Steube and Representative Carlos A. Gimenez Haridopolos as sponsors and designated the amendment “Made in Order.” That committee decision allowed it to be considered; it was not itself passage of the amendment or enactment of a prohibition. See the Rules Committee materials.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- FUNCTION: Land area measure calculation meter supports full screen display of real-time track, which can display navigation and positioning information such as real-time accuracy, latitude, altitude, etc., and real-time of walking track with positioning data, which can be displayed directly on full screen
- FALL PROOF: Land area meter measuinstrument is fall proof, no need to worry about machine falling when measuring mountain forest and fish pond
- MEASUREMENT: Mini land area measurer adopts for U chip, equipped with positioning system, with measurement, small error and high precision, offer you better using experience
- LED BACKLIGHT DISPLAY: Land area calculation meter is equipped with LED backlight display, the measurement results can be displayed on the screen directly, convenient for observation
- ANTI-SKID: navigation track land area measure tool adopts VI level anti-skid design, using professional ergonomic design, not easy to fall off when working
What the vote means—and what it does not
The Congressional Record says the amendment was agreed to after debate by voice vote. It does not show a separate recorded tally for the amendment. The House later passed H.R. 7567 on April 30, 2026, by 224 yeas to 200 nays; that roll-call vote was on the bill, not a separate count on the amendment. See H.R. 7567’s legislative actions.
House adoption of an amendment does not establish that its proposed rule became law. The available legislative record establishes the House action and the bill’s House passage on April 30, 2026, but does not establish later Senate action, enactment, or implementation status as of October 8, 2026. Readers should not treat the amendment as a current purchase ban based on the House vote alone.
Rank #2
How the proposal differs from current disclosure rules
AFIDA already requires a foreign person who acquires or transfers a covered interest in agricultural land to report it to the Secretary of Agriculture within 90 days. Reporting gives the government information about covered interests; it is not the same as prohibiting a person from buying land. The amendment would establish a proposed purchase prohibition for defined categories, rather than merely adding a reporting obligation. See the AFIDA reporting regulations.
What members argued during debate
Steube’s national-security case
Steube argued that the amendment would protect national security and food security, particularly when agricultural land is near military installations or infrastructure. Those were the sponsor’s reasons for supporting the measure, not findings established by the amendment’s adoption.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- STABLE AND ACCURATE: Land meter adopts measuring level high sensitivity GNSS receiver chip, uses six satellite system, covers the whole world, has high area measurement accuracy, good and easy satellite search
- 4 MEASUREMENT MODES: Land meter supports area measurement(ordinary area, length width area, fixed width area, fixed point area); Distance measurement(general distance, fixed point distance, general oblique distance, fixed point oblique distance); Airborne measurement(rotating airborne, round trip airborne); Slope survey(general slope)
- STRONG AND EASY TO USE: Land survey meter adopts industrial three prevention technology, water proof, dusts proof and fall resistant, long lasting. Equipped with big button, simple operating is not complicated, easy to get started
- HIGH ACCURACY: Land measure meter can also guarantee the use of accuracy in the outdoor place without mobile phone , no extra charges, can be placed on the vehicle measurement, suitable for all kinds of agricultural machinery
- PRACTICAL FEATURES: The mini portable handheld land area meter allow you to view trajectory graphics in real time while in use, and also view graphics in records after saving
Tokuda’s concerns about scope and enforcement
Representative Jill Tokuda opposed the amendment, arguing that it was overly broad, could give a President wide discretion, and could have unintended consequences, including discriminatory enforcement. She said: “Let’s be clear: I share the concern about protecting U.S. agricultural land and national security, but this amendment is overly broad and risks serious unintended consequences.” Read the House debate in the Congressional Record.
Foreign-held farmland figures cited in the debate
Tokuda attributed the following figures to USDA data as of December 2023 during floor debate. They are debate-attributed figures, not newly verified or current statistics:
Rank #4
- STABLE AND ACCURATE: Land meter adopts measuring level high sensitivity GNSS receiver chip, uses six satellite system, covers the whole world, has high area measurement accuracy, good and easy satellite search. Land meter mini portable handheld surveyor area measurement tool gnss 2.4in color screen measuring instrument s3 handheld survey equipment.
- 4 MEASUREMENT MODES: Land meter supports area measurement(ordinary area, length width area, fixed width area, fixed point area); Distance measurement(general distance, fixed point distance, general oblique distance, fixed point oblique distance); Airborne measurement(rotating airborne, round trip airborne); Slope survey(general slope).
- STRONG AND EASY TO USE: Land survey meter adopts industrial three prevention technology, water proof, dusts proof and fall long lasting. Equipped with big button, simple operating is not complicated, easy to get started. Handheld land meter, land measuring instrument surveryor tool for flat fields, forest, farmland and mountain.
- Land measure meter can also guarantee the use of accuracy in the outdoor place without mobile phone , no extra charges, can be placed on the vehicle measurement, suitable for all kinds of agricultural machinery. land area meter mini land surveying machine handheld land area measure calculation meter.
- PRACTICAL FEATURES: The mini portable handheld land area meter allow you to view trajectory graphics in real time while in use, and also view graphics in records after saving. Mini handheld units for mountainous land, slope and flat field, mini portable high handheld land area meter, land survey measuring instrument for forest farmland mountain mining lake.
- Foreign persons held 3.5% of all privately held U.S. agricultural land.
- Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany together accounted for 62% of foreign-held land.
- China accounted for approximately 0.9% of all foreign-held land.
The percentages have different denominators: 3.5% refers to privately held U.S. agricultural land, while the China figure refers to the total foreign-held land. Tokuda’s attribution and the December 2023 date matter when interpreting them; they should not be read as a current estimate or as proof of the amendment’s effects.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other farmland proposals are distinct
Two other introduced bills address different policy targets. Their stated purposes should not be confused with the Steube amendment or treated as enacted law.
Best Value
- Real Time Display: This handheld measurement tool provides three real time displays on its 2.4 inch LCD screen, showing land area, length, and walking trajectory simultaneously during a single measurement for efficient data collection.
- Reliable Surveying Accuracy: Equipped with a high sensitivity encapsulated , this GPS land measurement tool is designed to offer consistent and reliable accuracy for various land area and distance measurement tasks in outdoor environments.
- Extended Field Operation Battery: Featuring a built in 5.5Wh large capacity lithium battery, this area meter supports extended use for multiple days on a single charge, ideal for prolonged surveying work on farm land or large properties.
- Automatic Measurement: The device performs automatic track measurement, allowing area and length data to be displayed on the same screen, which simplifies the workflow for surveying, gardening, and landscaping projects.
- Handheld GPS Navigation and Tool: This portable device functions as both a handheld GPS navigator and a dedicated land area meter, suitable and homeowners needing a tool for property survey, garden planning, and land assessment.
| Measure | Target and stated approach | Status established here |
|---|---|---|
| Steube amendment to H.R. 7567 | Proposed to prohibit purchases by defined foreign-adversary and state-sponsor categories and specified affiliates; the amendment text covers U.S. agricultural land and does not describe a sensitive-site-only rule. | Agreed to by the House on April 30, 2026; no separate recorded amendment tally identified. |
| H.R. 8700, Protecting U.S. Farmland and Sensitive Sites From Foreign Adversaries Act | Its stated purpose includes increasing CFIUS jurisdiction over land purchases and adding safeguards for foreign-adversary purchases near sensitive sites. | Introduced and referred to committees; no enacted status established. Bill record. |
| H.R. 8531, Farmland for Farmers Act of 2026 | Its stated purpose is to ban new corporate ownership of agricultural land, a different target from the Steube amendment’s foreign-adversary categories. | Introduced and referred to the House Agriculture Committee; no enacted status established. Bill record. |
The cited descriptions distinguish the proposals’ stated goals, but do not establish identical transaction rules, disclosure requirements, or review procedures across them. In particular, the available description of H.R. 8700 identifies a proposed role for CFIUS and sensitive-site safeguards; it does not make that bill interchangeable with the amendment to H.R. 7567.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
