Tulare Times

Sacramento - Today, the Assembly Judiciary Committee passed AB 2306 (Mathis – 2024), which would authorize the California Military Department to develop a Statewide policy regarding prohibited foreign actors owning property within 50 miles of a U.S. Military base or California National Guard base. Assemblyman Mathis expressed his thoughts after the vote, stating, "Our Military installations train & house our State and Nation’s Service Members and should be treated as the sensitive areas they are."

Highlighting the need for such legislation, Mathis shared a concerning example, saying, "Just two years ago, a hostile foreign Government based company bought land just 20 minutes away from a key Air Force Base in North Dakota." He further emphasized the issue by noting, "There are many other instances where hostile foreign actors have purchased land not too far from critical military installations."

Pointing out the current gap in regulations, Mathis highlighted, "Currently, there is no State policy to prevent aggressive foreign actors from acquiring such sensitive lands." However, he expressed optimism about the potential impact of AB 2306, stating, "AB 2306 will keep nefarious foreign actors from gaining access to some of our most sensitive locations."

In light of the evolving security landscape, Mathis stressed the importance of proactive measures, asserting, "In our highly evolving technological world, it is paramount that we take the necessary steps to ensure our safety." The bill received unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee and is set to move to the Committee on Military & Veterans Affairs for further consideration.