HB68 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Scott StadthagenRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Leasehold interests added to prohibition against acquisition of ownership interests by certain individuals, governments, political parties in agricultural, forest and other real property; adds companies, individuals on U.S. Treasury sanctions lists to sanctions list prohibition; specifies overall pertinence to property in the state
Summary: HB68 expands Alabama's property protections by banning leaseholds for foreign principals and adding sanctions-listed individuals or companies to the foreign-principal definition.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits foreign principals from acquiring title, a controlling interest, or a leasehold in agricultural and forest property or real property in Alabama, including property within 10 miles of military installations or critical infrastructure facilities. It broadens who is considered a foreign principal to include individuals or companies on U.S. Treasury sanctions lists. It includes phased timing for applying the bans and provides liability protection for certain real estate professionals.

Who It Affects
Foreign principals (including individuals or companies on U.S. Treasury sanctions lists) would be barred from acquiring title, controlling interests, or leaseholds in specified Alabama properties.
Title insurers, title agents, real estate licensees, and settlement providers would be protected from liability for violations of these prohibitions.

Key Provisions
Expands 'foreign principal' to include individuals or companies on the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions lists.
Defines 'agricultural and forest property' and 'real property' as property located in the state of Alabama.
Adds prohibition on acquiring a leasehold interest in agricultural/forest property or real property for foreign principals.
Prohibits purchase or leasehold acquisition of property within 10 miles of a military installation or a critical infrastructure facility by foreign principals.
Imposes phased rules: title acquisitions after August 1, 2023 are covered; leasehold acquisitions after August 1, 2025 are covered; existing law governs earlier actions.
Provides liability protection for title insurers, title agents, real estate licensees, and settlement providers for violations of the prohibitions.
Effective date of the act is August 1, 2025.
Defines 'foreign country of concern' as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia (Taiwan is not included), and details categories of 'critical infrastructure facility' with examples.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Property & Estates