The bill amends existing laws regarding the ownership and leasing of agricultural land in South Dakota, particularly focusing on foreign ownership limitations. It specifies that prohibited entities are not allowed to own or lease agricultural land, with certain exceptions for agricultural research and contract feeding operations. The bill also clarifies that foreign entities, governments, or persons can own up to 160 acres of agricultural land, excluding land acquired through inheritance or held as security for debt. Additionally, it removes previous restrictions on the leasing of agricultural land by foreign entities.

Further amendments include provisions for the forfeiture of agricultural land owned in violation of these regulations, with specific penalties for minority owners who violate the law. The bill introduces a civil penalty for failure to report required information to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which can be enforced by the attorney general. The attorney general is also granted the authority to determine the fair market value of forfeited land interests and to collect civil penalties through legal action. Overall, the bill aims to tighten compliance requirements and enhance enforcement mechanisms related to foreign ownership of agricultural land.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/06/2026: 43-2A-2, 43-2A-6, 43-2A-7.1