Breitbart News, in a new exclusive, reports that special interest groups are now trying to stop South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and her fellow Republicans from implementing a measure that would restrict the likes of China from being able to purchase land in South Dakota. 

This comes as China has been buying U.S. farmland at an alarming rate.

$6.1 Billion

During the summer of 2022, reports emerged indicating that, during a 12-month period from April 2021 to March 2022, the communist government of China had purchased $6.1 billion in American real estate. 

This made China the top foreign buyer of U.S. land ahead of Canada, which purchased $5.5 billion of such land during the same time period.

Considering that the U.S. and China aren't exactly allies, China's buying of all of this U.S. land has many individuals concerned, particularly American Republicans. Accordingly, Republicans have been vowing to find a way to address the situation.

Former President Trump is among these Republicans. He just recently vowed to ban Chinese nationals from buying U.S. farmland, among other things, should he become the U.S. president in 2024.

Trump is being joined here by several other Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Noem, and others. Noem, in fact, was one of the pioneers of this effort.

Noem's law

In December 2022, Noem announced a new piece of legislation looking to address what she referred to as "the greatest threat to the U.S." namely China.

Fox News, at the time, reported:

Noem's proposed legislation would create a new board, called the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – South Dakota (CFIUS-SD), which will review proposed purchases of farmland by foreign investors. After an investigation, the committee will make a recommendation to the governor on whether the purchase should be approved or denied.

Noem, in announcing this legislation, said that it would "prevent nations who hate us" from buying our land.

Meet the opposition

Since Noem's announcement, her legislation has gained a lot of support. But, according to Breitbart, it has also gained some opposition.

Breitbart reports:

[S]pecial interest groups are racing to slow Noem’s rollout in South Dakota . . . An email sent by Brenda Forman of the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives to Noem’s legal team in mid-January, obtained by Breitbart News, notes that “agricultural groups” have reviewed an updated version of Noem’s bill and “are deeply concerned about the legality and constitutionality of the proposal.”

Now, according to Breitbart, there is uncertainty about whether Noem's measure will have the support that it needs to become law this session.

So, the question now is whether Noem will be able to overcome this challenge from these special interest groups. This remains to be seen. If not, there is growing hope that a similar bill might be passed at the federal level.