The bill S. 204 aims to amend South Carolina's laws regarding alien ownership of real property by prohibiting corporations controlled by foreign adversaries from acquiring any interest in real estate within the state. It defines key terms such as "alien," "foreign adversary," and "dominant shareholder," and significantly reduces the maximum amount of land that an alien or corporation may own from five hundred thousand acres to one thousand acres. Additionally, the bill includes provisions that allow certain exceptions for businesses operating in the state prior to December 31, 2022, and those that have received commitments from the Department of Commerce before March 23, 2025, provided they obtain approval from the Secretary of Commerce and the Governor.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new section that allows parties adverse to those controlled by foreign adversaries to obtain summary judgment in civil actions if they can demonstrate that the opposing party is engaged in an abuse of process. This includes actions that serve the foreign adversary's interests rather than resolving private disputes. If a summary judgment is granted against a party controlled by a foreign adversary, they have the right to appeal directly to the Supreme Court, which must expedite the hearing of such appeals.

Statutes affected:
01/15/2025: 27-13-30, 15-35-190
Latest Version: 27-13-30, 15-35-190