SB 7 Wisconsin Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Relating to: prohibiting a foreign adversary from acquiring agricultural or forestry land in this state.

This bill would prevent foreign governments or entities hostile to the U.S. from purchasing agricultural or forestry land within the state. It directly affects potential foreign buyers and landowners by prohibiting such acquisitions of farmland or forest land. The key provision bans transactions involving designated "foreign adversaries" and applies to all agricultural or forestry land, including leases or long-term agreements. The bill is currently under review by the Agriculture and Revenue Committee following a public hearing.

Bill status vetoed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Assembly Passage

Jan 2026

Vetoed

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Vetoed Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Text → Text as Enrolled · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a draft Senate Bill to an enacted Wisconsin Act, adding specific definitions for 'foreign adversary' that explicitly list countries like China, Iran, and Russia, and creating a new statute to prohibit these entities from acquiring any real property in the state. The final version also expanded the scope to include wind and solar energy facilities as potential condemnation purposes and established a strict 180-day forfeiture deadline for non-compliance.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed regarding who is restricted; while the draft used a broad federal definition of 'foreign adversary,' the enacted version explicitly lists specific countries and regimes. Additionally, the scope of land condemnation was expanded to include renewable energy facilities.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'foreign adversary' was changed from a broad federal standard to an explicit list including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela.

New definitions were created for 'foreign principal' and 'entity' to clarify who is subject to the new prohibitions.

REQUIREMENT

A new section was added to prohibit foreign principals from acquiring, owning, or holding any interest in real property within the state.

The existing 640-acre limit for aliens and corporations was retained but now operates alongside the new ban on foreign adversaries.

ENFORCEMENT

A specific 180-day timeline was established for foreign principals to divest property they acquire in violation of the new restrictions.

SCOPE

The list of purposes for which the state can condemn property was expanded to include wind and solar energy facilities.

Floor votes · Assembly Jan 22, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 20, 2026

Vetoed

Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 concurred in

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Received from Assembly amended and concurred in as amended, Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read a third time and concurred in as amended, Ayes 55, Noes 42

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Penterman

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read a third time and passed, Ayes 18, Noes 15

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Substitute Amendment 1 adopted

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Amended

Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Senate Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senators Pfaff, Spreitzer, Keyeski, Smith, Hesselbein, Larson, L. Johnson, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Dassler-Alfheim, Wall, Ratcliff, Wirch and Roys

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adoption of Senate Substitute Amendment 1 recommended by Committee on Agriculture and Revenue, Ayes 5, Noes 3

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

Senate Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Senator Jacque

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Introduced

Introduced by Senators Jacque, Cabral-Guevara and Nass; cosponsored by Representatives Penterman, Behnke, Allen, Armstrong, Brill, Brown, Dittrich, Goeben, Green, B. Jacobson, Kreibich, Maxey, Murphy, Mursau, O'Connor, Piwowarczyk, Sortwell, Steffen, Wichgers and Tusler

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors