HB 379 — Relating to acquisition of title to real property; to prohibit certain governments or governmental entities from acquiring certain real property in the state.
Last action — Enacted as 2023-332
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 25, 2023. Enacted.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
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Mixed recorded votes
3 passed, 2 failed in recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Real estate acquisition, non-resident citizens of China, the Chinese government, or Chinese entities, prohibited from acquiring real property
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
110 added · 84 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of Bill HB 379 changes the focus of property acquisition restrictions from specifically targeting Chinese individuals and entities to prohibiting certain governments and governmental entities from acquiring certain real estate in Alabama. This broader approach includes additional categories of properties, like agricultural land and critical infrastructure facilities, ensuring that these vital areas remain in local hands. This change matters because it reflects a shift towards protecting essential resources and local interests while still addressing concerns about foreign influence in property ownership.
HB379 ENGROSSEDENROLLED LO4EAA-2LO4EAA-3 By Representatives Stadthagen, Kiel, Shedd, Wood (D), DuBose, Butler, Hammett, Robertson, Whorton, Rehm, Pettus, Marques, Lee, Stringer, Oliver, Hurst, Lipscomb, Paschal, Hulsey, Brown, Mooney, Lamb, Gidley, Kirkland, Carns, Standridge RFD:
25-Apr-23 2023 Regular Session Page 0 HB379 EngrossedEnrolled 2Enrolled, 4An AAct, BILL3 TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 9 Relating to the acquisition of title to real property;
to amend Section 35-1-1, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit Chinesecertain citizens,governments the Chinese government, or Chinesegovernmental entities from acquiring certain real property in the state.
SectionFor 35-1-1,purposes Code of Alabamathis 1975,section, isthe amendedfollowing towords readhave asthe follows:following meanings:
"§35-1-1(1) AnExceptAGRICULTURAL asAND providedFOREST inPROPERTY. Section 3 of this act, an alien, resident or nonresident may take and hold property, real and personal, in this state, either by purchase, descent, or devise, and may dispose of and transmit the same by sale, descent, or devise as a native citizen." Section 3.
(a)All Notwithstandingreal anyproperty otherused law,for raising, harvesting, and selling crops or for the followingfeeding, governments,breeding, entitiesmanagement, raising, sale of, or individualsthe shallproduction notof purchaselivestock, or otherwisefor acquirethe titlegrowing toand realsale propertyof intimber thisand state:forest products.
(1)(2) AnyCRITICAL governmentalINFRASTRUCTURE entityFACILITY. of China.
Page 1 HB379 Engrossed (2) Any company or other entity that is any of the following:
HeadquarteredA inchemical China.manufacturing facility.
DirectlyA orrefinery. indirectly held or controlled by the government of China.
OfA whichplant theor majorityfacility ofproducing itselectric stockenergy orno othermatter ownershiphow interestgenerated is held or controlledproduced. by individuals who are citizens of China.
OfA whichwater thetreatment majorityfacility of stock or otherwastewater ownershiptreatment interestplant. of which is held or controlled by a company or entity described by paragraphs a., b., or c.
(3)e. Any individual who is a citizen of China.
A liquid natural gas terminal.
f.
A telecommunications central switching office.
g.
A gas processing plant, including any plant used in Page 1 HB379 Enrolled the processing, treatment, or fractionation of natural gas.
h.
A seaport facility as defined in Section 40-13-1, Code of Alabama 1975.
i.
Aerospace or spaceport infrastructure.
j.
An airport as defined in Section 23-1-411, Code of Alabama 1975.
(3) FOREIGN COUNTRY OF CONCERN.
China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
This term shall not include Taiwan.
(4) FOREIGN PRINCIPAL.
Any of the following:
a.
The government or any official of the government of a foreign country of concern.
b.
A political party or member of a political party or any subdivision of a political party in a foreign country of concern.
c.
A country or government identified on any sanctions list of the United State Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
(5) MILITARY INSTALLATION.
A base, camp, post, station, yard, or center that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense or its affiliates, encompassing at least 10 contiguous acres.
(6) REAL PROPERTY.
Land, buildings, fixtures, and all other improvements to land.
Section 3.
Show all 54 changed lines (14 more)
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, no foreign principal shall acquire title to, or acquire a controlling interest in, any of the following:
(1) Agricultural and forest property.
(2) Real property on or within 10 miles of any military Page 2 HB379 Enrolled installation or critical infrastructure facility.
(c) No title insurer, title agent, real estate licensee, or other settlement provider as defined by the Real Estate Procedures Act, 12 U.S.C.
2601 et seq., shall be liable for any violation of Section 4(a).
NoThis titleact insurer,shall agent,become oreffective settlementon providerthe shallfirst beday liableof forthe anythird violationmonth offollowing Sectionits 3(a).passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
SectionPage 5.3 HB379 Enrolled 73 75 77 79 ________________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives 82 84 ________________________________________________ President and Presiding Officer of the Senate 87 House of Representatives 90 I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and was passed by the House 09-May-23, as amended.
This93 actJohn shallTreadwell notClerk be96 construed98 toSenate apply18-May-23 toPassed anyHouse of23-May-23 theConcurred following:in Senate Amendment Page 4
(a) A citizen, entity, or company of Taiwan.
(b) An existing business or the expansion of an existing business on contiguous property.
Section 6.
This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by Page 2 HB379 Engrossed the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
Page 3 HB379 Engrossed House of Representatives Read for the first time and referred ................25-Apr-23 to the House of Representatives committee on Urban and Rural Development Read for the second time and placed ................03-May-23 on the calendar:
amendments Read for the third time and passed ................09-May-23 as amended Yeas 73 Nays 23 Abstains 6 John Treadwell Clerk Page 4
Show all 54 changed rows (14 more)
Amendments
3 amendmentsClick Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.
Action History
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Enrolled
Sponsors
- Scott Stadthagen · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 139 not signed on · 29 voted No
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (139)
139 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 139 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 23 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| D | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 25 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 74% | 21% | 0% | 6% |
How each member voted (34)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Nay |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Nay |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Nay |
| Merika Coleman | D | Nay |
| Robert Stewart | D | Nay |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Nay |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Nay |
| William M. Beasley | D | Yea |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Not Voting |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Yea |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Yea |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Not Voting |
| Josh Carnley | R | Yea |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Yea |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| D | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 24 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 71% | 18% | 0% | 12% |
How each member voted (34)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Nay |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Not Voting |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Nay |
| Merika Coleman | D | Nay |
| Robert Stewart | D | Nay |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Nay |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Nay |
| William M. Beasley | D | Yea |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Not Voting |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Not Voting |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Yea |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Yea |
| Josh Carnley | R | Yea |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Not Voting |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 31 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 91% | 0% | 0% | 9% |
How each member voted (34)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Greg J. Reed | — | Yea |
| Bobby D. Singleton | D | Yea |
| Kirk Hatcher | D | Yea |
| Linda Coleman-Madison | D | Yea |
| Merika Coleman | D | Yea |
| Robert Stewart | D | Yea |
| Rodger M. Smitherman | D | Yea |
| Vivian Davis Figures | D | Yea |
| William M. Beasley | D | Yea |
| Andrew Jones | R | Yea |
| April Weaver | R | Yea |
| Arthur Orr | R | Yea |
| Chris Elliott | R | Yea |
| Clyde Chambliss | R | Yea |
| Dan Roberts | R | Not Voting |
| David Sessions | R | Yea |
| Donnie Chesteen | R | Yea |
| Garlan Gudger | R | Yea |
| Gerald H. Allen | R | Not Voting |
| Greg Albritton | R | Yea |
| J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner | R | Yea |
| Jack W. Williams | R | Yea |
| Jay Hovey | R | Not Voting |
| Josh Carnley | R | Yea |
| Keith Kelley | R | Yea |
| Lance Bell | R | Yea |
| Larry Stutts | R | Yea |
| Randy Price | R | Yea |
| Sam Givhan | R | Yea |
| Shay Shelnutt | R | Yea |
| Steve Livingston | R | Yea |
| Tim Melson | R | Yea |
| Tom Butler | R | Yea |
| Will Barfoot | R | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| R | 66 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| D | 3 | 21 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 72 | 22 | 0 | 8 |
| % of votes cast | 71% | 22% | 0% | 8% |
How each member voted (102)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R | 68 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| D | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 97 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (102)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 379 do?
- Real estate acquisition, non-resident citizens of China, the Chinese government, or Chinese entities, prohibited from acquiring real property
- Who sponsors HB 379?
- HB 379 is sponsored by Scott Stadthagen (R).
- What is the current status of HB 379?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 25, 2023. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 379?
- Track HB 379 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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