Georgia Governor signs bill restricting land purchases from Chinese citizens

On Tuesday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed a bill into law that would restrict some Chinese citizens from buying land in the state.

SB 420 prevents individuals who are considered “agents of a foreign adversary” from buying agricultural land or any land near military bases if they are nor U.S. citizens or legal residents, 11 Alive reports. The “foreign adversaries” listed under the law are China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Russia.

The Governor’s office announced in a press release that Kemp had “signed a package of legislation focused on supporting Georgia’s ever growing agricultural industry and improving security against foreign adversaries.”

Gov. Kemp claims the legislation is meant to support farmers.

“As valued members of our state’s number one industry, Georgia’s farming families deserve our enduring support as they face unprecedented challenges, including having to navigate disastrous federal energy policies, attempts by foreign adversaries to acquire farm land, and theft of property,” Gov. Kemp said in a statement. “We are tackling these challenges head on, and I want to thank our legislative partners for their work on these important issues.”

The law has received strong criticism and pushback from Democrats in Georgia, who believe it would encourage racial profiling.

“I personally have been accused of being an agent of the Chinese Communist Party, a spy, a plant, un-American and a foreign asset, and that’s just this week,” Georgia State Representative Michelle Au said in an interview with WABE back in March.

Rep. Au, who is the chair of Georgia’s Asian American Pacific Islander caucus, reposted a video of her speaking against SB 420 on Tuesday after it was announced Kemp would sign the bill.