Study Committee on Foreign Purchase of Farmland in Mississippi

Pursuant to House Bill 280 passed by the Mississippi Legislature during the 2023 Regular Session, the Mississippi Study Committee on Foreign Purchase of Farmland will hold its first meeting inside Room 113 at the State Capitol on Thursday, August 24, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The Mississippi Legislature created a study committee through House Bill 280 for the purpose of studying the purchasing, acquiring, leasing or holding an interest in agricultural land by foreign governments.

The committee is composed of the following nine members or their designee: The Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, The Attorney General, The Chairman of the House Judiciary A Committee, The Chairman of the Senate Judiciary A Committee, The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, The Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, one person appointed by the Governor, one person appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and one person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of Farm Bureau.

At the first meeting, the Study Committee will elect a chairman, a vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary and will adopt rules for transacting business and keeping records. The Study Committee has been tasked by the Legislature to develop and report its findings to the Legislature on or before December 1, 2023, in accordance with House Bill 280.

An initial presentation of information and data collected by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce regarding several of the designated topics listed in House Bill 280 will be shared with meeting attendees.

USDA Data Regarding Foreign Ownership of Farmland (usda.gov)

1/3/2023

Commissioner Gipson Shares Newly Released Foreign Land Holdings Report Disclosing Increase in Foreign-Owned Farmland in Mississippi (PDF)

11/28/2023

Official Findings of the MS Study Committee on Foreign Purchase of Farmland (PDF)

11/09/2023

Meeting of Foreign Purchase of Farmland Study Committee 11.09.2023 (YouTube)

Draft Committee Report as presented on November 9, 2023 (PDF)

10/19/2023

Meeting of Foreign Purchase of Farmland Study Committee 10.19.2023 (YouTube)

9/27/2023

Foreign Ownership of Land: Legislative Review (Presentation, PDF)