By Daniel Stefanski |

A bill that would safeguard Arizona lands from being owned by foreign adversaries is progressing through the state legislature along partisan lines.

Last week, the Arizona Senate passed SB 1403, which would “prohibit a foreign principal from a designated country from, directly or indirectly, purchasing, owning, acquiring by grant or devising or having any other interest in real property in Arizona” – according to the purpose from the chamber.

Sixteen Republicans voted for the legislation, compared to 12 Democrats (two members did not vote).

According to the bill, “designated country” is defined “as a country that is identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to the national security of the United States in each of the three most recent Annual Threat Assessments of the U.S. intelligence community.”

After the vote, the Arizona Senate Republican Caucus’ “X” account posted, “JUST IN – China, Russia, Iran & North Korea are enemy nations who only want to unleash harm on the United States and pose an incredible risk to our national security on a daily basis. Today, Senate Democrats voted ‘NO’ on legislation prohibiting these countries from owning land in Arizona. The Left’s reckless disregard for the safety of our state and our citizens continues to be on full display through every irresponsible vote undermining our efforts to protect our communities.”

Senator Janae Shamp, the bill’s sponsor, added, “It was very disappointing to see only Republicans vote in support of a bill that our state’s military asked to protect our citizens, especially because the bill initially received bipartisan support in committee. SB 1403 prohibits organizations in a country determined to be a serious threat to the United States, from owning or leasing property in Arizona. I created this legislation because of real threats Luke Air Force Base has experienced. This base is home to the elite F-35 squadrons that train the world’s greatest fighter pilots around the clock to protect our nation. Arizona is also home to the Barry M. Goldwater range in Yuma, which is the third-largest land base in the US. Foreign adversaries have no business buying property near these bases, but this is happening, and it’s a threat to national security.”

The second-year lawmaker opined on why members of the minority party in the chamber might have opposed her legislation, writing, “Why were Democrats so outraged over Saudis owning Arizona farmland, and yet they have no concern for these other real-time security threats? The answer: political theatre.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.