By Howard Fischer | AZ Capitol Times
State lawmakers want to make it illegal for foreign entities “hostile to the United States” to buy land in Arizona unless legislators approve.
But the legislation awaiting action by the Senate does not exactly make it clear who is considered “hostile” and how such a decision would be made, other than what a majority of lawmakers decide.
And while Sen. Mark Finchem specifically mentioned the Chinese Communist Party, the measure approved Jan. 27 by the Senate Committee on Federalism is broad enough that it also is drawing concern from the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Arizona.
The Prescott Republican said his SB1066, which was approved by the panel on a party-line vote, is modeled after legislation in Arkansas that restricts certain foreign businesses from acquiring any real property in the state.