Saving Our Farmland

Save Our Farmland and Protect Our National Security Act

Overview

The Save Our Farmland and Protect Our National Security Act (R.C. 5301.256) safeguards Ohio's agricultural land and national interests by preventing foreign or hostile entities from acquiring farmland within the state.

Under this law, the Ohio Secretary of State (SOS) identifies and restricts ownership of Ohio agricultural property by individuals, organizations, or governments that pose a threat to agricultural production or to the security of the United States.

What the Act Does

The Act prohibits any person or entity that has been determined by the Secretary of State to pose a threat to U.S. or Ohio agriculture from:

• Acquiring agricultural land or property suitable for agricultural use.

• Owning or holding an interest in such property through agents, trustees, or fiduciaries.

This prohibition applies to land, water, airspace, and natural products or deposits located in, on, or over Ohio farmland.

Registry of Restricted Parties

The Ohio Secretary of State’s office is responsible for maintaining a public registry of entities that are prohibited from acquiring agricultural land in Ohio.

The registry includes individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments—other than the U.S. federal government, its states, or its territories—that pose a threat to agricultural production or national security. The list is compiled using information from multiple federal sources, including:

• Foreign Adversaries List

• Terrorist Exclusion List

• State Sponsors of Terrorism List

• Presidential Executive Orders:

  • Executive Order 13224

  • Executive Order 14157

  • Executive Order 13268

Enforcement Process

When the Secretary of State’s office determines that a prohibited party—or their agent, trustee, or fiduciary—holds title to, or interest in, Ohio farmland, the office will:

1. Report the violation to the Ohio Attorney General (AG).

2. The Attorney General must then initiate legal action in the Court of Common Pleas of the county where the land is located.

3. Upon filing, the Attorney General will issue a notice of pendency with the county recorder.

4. If the court determines that agricultural land was acquired in violation of the Act, ownership of the land reverts to the State of Ohio.

How to Report a Violation

If you believe that an individual, organization, or government listed on the registry—or an agent, trustee, or fiduciary acting on their behalf—has illegally acquired Ohio farmland. In that case, you are encouraged to file a report with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

Reports help protect Ohio’s farmers, food security, and natural resources.