Rep. Jordan Ridley Introduces Bill to Protect Land Acquisitions Near Critical Infrastructure

ATLANTA - State Representative Jordan Ridley (R-Woodstock) recently introduced House Bill 1372, which would require prior approval from the Georgia Attorney General for foreign entities wishing to acquire or lease land near critical infrastructure in Georgia.

"Protecting Georgia's critical infrastructure facilities is a matter of public safety and national security, and we must work to ensure that land near critical infrastructure is not acquired by foreign entities who may pose a threat to our citizens and this state," said Rep. Ridley. "Our communities and our state rely on critical infrastructure, and any disruption or attack on these facilities could be detrimental. In recent years, the Georgia House has passed other legislation to protect Georgia's farmland from foreign interests, and this bill would be another step forward in safeguarding Georgia's land near our state's critical infrastructure from bad actors who may wish to do harm."

HB 1372 would prohibit certain non-resident aliens and foreign entities from acquiring land located within five miles of critical infrastructure without prior approval from the Georgia Attorney General. Under the bill, critical infrastructure would include certain energy, water, transportation and communication systems, chemical facilities and more. Non-resident aliens who wish to acquire such land would be required to submit a detailed disclosure of ownership, and the Attorney General would be authorized to deny their application if the transaction of the land poses a risk to state or national security.

The full text of HB 1372 may be found here.

Representative Jordan Ridley represents the citizens of District 22, which includes portions of Cherokee and Cobb counties. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2022 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Code Revision Committee and as Secretary of the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee. He also serves on the Game, Fish & Parks and Public Safety and Homeland Security committees.

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