Ashcroft Joins Legislators to Propose Bill to Reduce Foreign Land Ownership

JEFFERSON CITY, MO- Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says he has joined two state representatives for legislation intended to shield Missourians from foreign land ownership deals which could impact agricultural farmland and military bases.

Ashcroft will join State Senator Jason Bean and State Representative Kurtis Gregory in filing legislation that would lower the foreign land ownership percentage from 1% to 0.5%. Also, their bills would prohibit a foreign entity from owning land within a 30 mile radius of a military base or military contractor.

A proposed senate substitute to the legislation backed by Ashcroft would require all foreign persons or entities to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the secretary of state’s office to be included in the mandatory report that is filed with the Missouri Department of Agriculture.