HB1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025, amends the Defense Production Act of 1950 to expand the role of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in transactions involving agriculture. The bill would add the Secretary of Agriculture as a CFIUS member for covered transactions involving agricultural land, agricultural biotechnology, or the broader agriculture industry, including transportation, storage, and processing.
The bill also creates a new process for certain agricultural land transactions. When the Secretary of Agriculture identifies a reportable agricultural land transaction involving a foreign person from China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran, CFIUS would have to determine whether the deal is a covered transaction and whether to review it or take other action. These requirements would apply only when the transaction is reportable under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, and they would end if the relevant country is removed from the federal foreign adversaries list.
Impact
The bill would amend federal national security and foreign investment law by modifying CFIUS procedures under section 721 of the Defense Production Act. It would give the Department of Agriculture a formal role in reviewing foreign acquisitions tied to farmland and agricultural businesses, and it would add a targeted screening mechanism for certain land purchases by persons connected to designated foreign adversary countries. The measure would primarily affect foreign investors, agricultural landowners, agribusinesses, and federal agencies involved in investment review and agricultural reporting.
Sentiment
The available legislative context suggests the bill was advanced without recorded committee debate or roll-call votes in the provided materials, and it passed the House before being received in the Senate. The overall framing of the bill is protective and national-security oriented, focusing on foreign ownership of agricultural assets and the need for closer scrutiny of sensitive transactions. The lack of recorded opposition in the supplied context makes it difficult to identify a broader partisan split from the materials provided.
Contention
The main point of contention implied by the bill’s structure is the expanded federal scrutiny of foreign investment in farmland and agriculture, especially transactions involving China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. Supporters are likely to view the measure as a safeguard for food security, critical infrastructure, and national security, while critics may argue it could discourage investment, add regulatory burdens, or create uncertainty for legitimate agricultural transactions. Another possible issue is the bill’s targeted treatment of specific foreign adversary countries, which may raise concerns about overbreadth or diplomatic sensitivity.
Establish the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – South Dakota and revise provisions related to the foreign ownership or control of agricultural land.