Enact Ohio Property Protection Act
Legislative Analysis Report Enact Ohio Property Protection Act
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This bill, known as the Ohio Property Protection Act, aims to prevent foreign adversaries—including certain foreign governments, citizens, and businesses—from buying 'protected property' in Ohio. It expands the types of restricted land to include agricultural land, as well as any property located within 25 miles of a military base or critical infrastructure facility like a power plant. It also sets up a system where local county officials must check property transfers, investigate potential violations, and take legal action to force the sale of illegally owned land.
Real EstateNational SecurityGovernment Oversight
2. Changes to Existing Law
ORC Sec. 319.202 Requires buyers and sellers of protected property to sign statements affirming they are not prohibited foreign buyers before a property transfer can be approved by the county auditor. It also requires auditors to report suspected violations to the county sheriff.
ORC Sec. 5301.256 Expands the ban on foreign ownership from just agricultural land to 'protected property' (land near military bases or critical infrastructure). It shifts enforcement from the state Attorney General to local county sheriffs and prosecutors, who can sue to force the sale of illegally owned property.
ORC Sec. 5323.02 Updates a legal cross-reference regarding residential rental property registration to match the changes made in the property transfer process.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- Certain foreign governments, citizens, and businesses from countries listed as foreign adversaries are banned from buying protected property in Ohio.
- Protected property now includes any land within 25 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure facility, in addition to farmland.
- When buying or selling property, you must sign a form declaring that you are not a prohibited foreign buyer.
- If a prohibited foreign buyer illegally acquires land, local officials can investigate and force a court-ordered sale of the property.
4. Entities Affected
- Foreign governments
- Foreign businesses
- Citizens of foreign adversary nations
- Ohio real estate buyers and sellers
- County auditors
- County sheriffs
- County prosecutors
- The Ohio Secretary of State
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: The Ohio Secretary of State is authorized to create and update a registry of foreign adversaries every six months. County auditors, sheriffs, and prosecutors are given the authority to review property transfers, investigate violations, and file lawsuits to force property sales.
Penalties & Mandates: Bans prohibited foreign entities from acquiring protected property. Mandates that buyers and sellers sign disclosure forms during property transfers. If a violation occurs, the property is subject to a forced court-ordered sale, with the proceeds distributed to cover court costs, liens, and county funds.
Implementation Timeline: Not applicable
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Counties may receive additional revenue from the proceeds of forced court sales of illegally owned property, which will be deposited into the county general fund after court costs and liens are paid.
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Roy Klopfenstein
District
82
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Angela N. King
District
84
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
To make your research more efficient, this bill has been assigned to one or more Topics. These custom labels group related legislation together, ensuring you can find all of the bills related to a specific topic, regardless of which committee they are in.
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Taxation & Finance
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Criminal Justice
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Environment
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Business & Commerce
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Agriculture
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Local Government
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Rent & Housing
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Military & Veterans Affairs
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Most legislative decisions are made in committee rooms, not on the chamber floor. Here, you can track which committees have been assigned to review, amend, or report on this bill. Stay informed on where the bill is currently being debated and which chairpersons hold the power to move it forward.
Status Changes
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Senate |
Governor |
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Referred to committee
Jan 28 2025
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Documents
Access the primary source. This section hosts the full, unedited text of the legislation alongside every official document produced during its journey. From the initial draft to the final enrolled version, you can review the exact language being proposed for state law.
