SJR 52 - This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, prohibits foreign ownership of agricultural land in Missouri after the effective date of the act. Within 12 months after January 1, 2025, the Department of Agriculture shall perform an audit to ascertain the total foreign-owned agricultural acreage in the state and make the audit available to the public on the Department’s website within 30 days after the audit is complete.
Within 12 months after January 1, 2026, all interest in foreign-owned agricultural land in the state shall be divested.
If the Director of the Department finds that an alien or foreign business did not divest interest in agricultural land within the specified time frame, the Director shall report the violation to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall institute a forfeiture action and file a notice of pendency of the action.
If the court finds that an alien or foreign business did not divest interest in agricultural land within the specified time frame, it shall issue an order directing a local law enforcement agency to seize the agricultural land. Forfeiture proceedings shall be governed by the Missouri rules of civil procedure.
After a law enforcement agent seizes the agricultural land, the agricultural land shall be sold at a public auction within six months after the seizure. Notice of sale shall be posted on the front door of the courthouse where the forfeiture proceeding took place at least 30 days prior to the public action. The Attorney General shall ensure that the buyer is a citizen of the United States.
Land that has been classified as agricultural land for the past 30 years shall be subject to the prohibition on foreign ownership of agricultural land under this joint resolution.
JULIA SHEVELEVA