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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>55247</law_id><section_number>55.1-508</section_number><catch_line>Foreign adversary acquisition of agricultural land prohibited</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Property Conveyances</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5.1">Foreign Entities and Property Ownership</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens of the Commonwealth, on and after July 1, 2023, no <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> shall acquire any <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> in the Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-202563" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-508/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any acquisition of any <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> in violation of this section shall be void, and title to such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> shall be deemed to have vested as of the date of such purported acquisition in the name of the Commonwealth without any payment of consideration of any kind by the Commonwealth. The <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> purporting to acquire such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> shall be barred from making a claim against any <span class="dictionary">party</span> for <span class="dictionary">restitution</span> of the purchase price paid by such <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> in connection with such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> or for any other kind of payment relating to the <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span>&#x2019;s loss or lack of title to such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span>. Any <span class="dictionary">lien</span> that has attached to such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> during the <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span>&#x2019;s purported acquisition or ownership shall remain a valid <span class="dictionary">lien</span> against the interest during such time as the interest is held by the Commonwealth except that such <span class="dictionary">lien</span> shall not be subject to foreclosure during the period of the Commonwealth&#x2019;s ownership nor shall the Commonwealth be subject to the terms of any agreement giving rise to the <span class="dictionary">lien</span>. The Commonwealth may hold or dispose of such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> in any proper manner. <a id="paragraph-202564" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-508/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions in subsection B, if the <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> has subsequently sold or transferred the <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> to a person or entity that is not a <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span>, title to such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> shall be vested in the subsequent non-<span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> purchaser or transferee and shall be valid as if the purported acquisition of such <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> by a <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> has not occurred. <a id="paragraph-202565" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-508/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If an <span class="dictionary">interest in agricultural land</span> has been acquired in violation of this section, a county, city, or town attorney for the locality in which the agricultural land is located, the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, or any non-<span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> person that was a <span class="dictionary">party</span> to the void transaction or is a subsequent holder of such interest may file an action (i) to eject the <span class="dictionary">foreign adversary</span> from <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, (ii) to quiet title to such property, or (iii) for any other appropriate action to ratify the nullification of the transaction. Any action brought pursuant to this subsection shall be filed in the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> where the subject property is located. <a id="paragraph-202566" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-508/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> This section shall not be applied in a manner inconsistent with any provision of any treaty between the United States and another country. <a id="paragraph-202567" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-508/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2023, cc. 765, 796.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
