Bill Analyses and Ratings

Rating: 0

Bill Summary:

House Bill 356 prohibits foreign adversaries—defined as nations designated by the U.S. government as hostile, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia—from owning, leasing, or controlling certain types of land in Idaho. This includes agricultural land, mineral rights, water rights, forest lands, mining claims, and property near critical infrastructure or military installations. The bill requires existing foreign owners to divest within 180 days and mandates registration and reporting of such holdings to the state. It also provides for enforcement through judicial foreclosure and allows whistleblowers to report violations in exchange for potential rewards. Certain exceptions are made for pension funds and entities governed by national security agreements with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The bill includes an emergency clause, taking effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

While the bill addresses valid national security concerns and seeks to limit foreign influence over critical resources, it raises serious questions about private property rights and due process. The forced divestiture provisions could set a precedent for state interference in property ownership without compensation or individualized hearings. Additionally, the reporting requirements and whistleblower incentives may expand state surveillance in ways that conflict with limited-government principles. Though the goals are aligned with national security and resource protection, the methods risk violating other Republican Platform tenets—namely, those regarding individual liberty, property rights, and restrained government authority. For these reasons, House Bill 356 is rated as neutral (0).

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