Bid to Prohibit China from Buying Tennessee Land Unites Politicians

Democrats Concerned About Unintended Consequences of Tennessee Law

A new law that will prohibit sanctioned foreign entities and nonresident aliens from property ownership in Tennessee is causing concern among Democrats in the state legislature. The bill, which is headed to Gov. Bill Lee for signature, was amended to include the sanctioned language. The original version of the bill stated that foreign businesses, governments, nonresident aliens, and agents of such groups could not purchase land in Tennessee if their own country prohibited U.S. citizens from purchasing real property in that country.

Concerns for Nashville’s Kurdish Community

Democrats in the legislature are concerned about the possible unintended consequences of the law on the large Kurdish community in the Nashville area, which is home to the largest Kurdish community in North America. State Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat, questioned whether the bill would prevent Kurdish Americans in Nashville from purchasing land in the future if the Kurdish population were ever sanctioned.

Sanctioned Countries

The amended law will apply to sanctioned countries on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s sanctions programs and country information list. The list includes comprehensive or selective sanctions, with entire countries on the list or certain entities related to a country. Examples of comprehensive sanctions on the list as of April 27 include Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, and Somalia, while more specific examples include Chinese military companies, counter-terrorism, and Russian harmful foreign activities sanctions.

The Debate

Republican state Rep. Jason Zachary said the bill was about protecting farmland in Tennessee from adversaries of the United States from taking hold of Tennessee land. State Rep. Jay Reedy, the Republican sponsor of the bill, said he was not entirely sure whether the bill would prevent Kurdish Americans in Nashville from owning property in the future. Other Democrats spoke before the vote, saying the bill could have unintended consequences and even calling the bill immoral.

Democratic Opposition

State Rep. Bo Mitchell, a Nashville Democrat, said the unintended consequences of the bill could hurt people that have saved American lives, such as Afghani translators and the Kurds. State Rep. Justin Jones, another Nashville Democrat, called the bill “shameful” and said it would impact people already in Tennessee trying to make a living. The bill passed 72–18, with six Democrats crossing party lines to vote yes on the bill.

Editor’s Note: The use of this law to prevent Kurdish Americans from owning property in the future is uncertain, but the lack of clear answers from the bill’s sponsors has caused concern among Democrats in the state legislature.