Kansas lawmakers approve foreign adversary land ban, threatening Johnson County plant

The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature on Tuesday approved a measure that will largely ban companies from China and other foreign adversaries from owning real estate, likely blocking a sprawling facility under construction in Johnson County.

The legislation appears intended to thwart Cnano Technology, a U.S. subsidiary of a Chinese firm that is building a $95 million, 333,000-square-foot facility in the business park of New Century AirCenter. Republicans have been voicing fears for months about the potential for foreign influence by Cnano and other companies.

The House on Monday approved the legislation, SB 172, on an 86-39 vote. The Senate followed Tuesday in a 24-14 vote, sending the bill to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly for her signature or veto.

The measure comes amid growing U.S. concern over foreign influence as China and the United States compete for dominance and Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, which receives significant American aid. President Joe Biden recently signed a foreign aid bill into law that will lead to a ban on Chinese-owned TikTok if the app is not sold, a development supporters of the Kansas bill pointed to this week.

“This is a very serious issue and if we can get bipartisan support at the federal level for TikTok, we should be able to do it here in Kansas,” said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican who chairs the House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee.

The Kansas legislation with limited exceptions bans citizens and companies – along with subsidiaries – of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela from owning non-residential real estate within 100 miles of any military installation amid fears of foreign interference and espionage.

The radius would effectively apply the restrictions to most areas of the state, given the presence of McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Fort Riley near Junction City, and Fort Leavenworth. The Army Reserve also has a presence at New Century.

“I don’t have a choice on that. We have a military base there,” Rep. William Sutton, a Gardner Republican whose district includes the Cnano site, said of his support for the measure.

While Kelly hasn’t said whether she will veto the measure, Democrats largely opposed it. Kelly previously vetoed a bill that would prohibit government agencies from purchasing drones made by – or with parts from – countries “of concern,” citing overly broad language in the legislation.

This week marked the second time lawmakers tried to pass the measure. In early April, the House passed a similar bill but the Senate came one vote short.

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