The U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran touched an Oklahoma House Committee this week as one legislator argued a proposed foreign ownership bill would weaken state law and give more leeway to terrorists he says are in Oklahoma.
Rep. Chris Kannady, (R-OKC), a Marine Corps veteran, led the fight against Rep. Jim Shaw’s HB1453, arguing it would water down a 2023 law already banning foreign ownership of land in the state.
“I have grave concerns about the changes to this bill. There was a reason why the bill was held over from last year, because it waters down our current statute. And we cannot do that. We just entered into a war with the worst terrorist country in the United States.
Through pointed questioning during Tuesday’s hearing in the House Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Committee, Rep. Kannady accused Shaw of “political posturing” and “political pandering” and using “politics” to promote his bill. Kannady contended that Shaw’s bill would extend required foreclosure efforts against foreign owners, from the current 35 days to 90 days.
“I guarantee you there are Iranian citizens here that want to kill you and your constituents. This bill grants more leeway than the current law for those individuals to do just that,” he said in debate on the bill. “It waters down the ability to prosecute and find these people that are terrorist organizations……I guarantee you there are state operators in the state of Oklahoma who work for the Iranian regime.”
Kannady, a Lt. Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves and also a Republican candidate for State Attorney General, pleaded with the committee members not to water down the bill.
“You have to take a stance and have some political courage to not screw up a good law that was put in place by someone who knew what they were doing and was not doing it for political tandem, was not doing it to post it on Facebook. I don’t care what is and isn’t posted on Facebook.”
Rep. Shaw, who did not respond to the allegations of political posturing, answered by explaining HB1453 criminalizes hostile foreign nationals and entities from owning real property or farmland in the state and would force divestment of current land holdings with 12 months. It also proposed a $30,000 fine and up to two years in prison.
The Chandler Republican said an affidavit signed at title companies in the state when closing on a property to affirm U.S. citizenship is not highly scrutinized.
“This sends a message reinforcing Oklahoma First values, building and improving on something that the legislature has already said at once by adding those criminal enforcement mechanisms.”
Despite support for the bill from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, a majority in the committee voted against Shaw’s bill, denying a “Do Pass” on a 3-10 vote.
YEAS: 3
Hardin Harris Manger
NAYS: 10
Culver Duel Ford Kane
Kannady Rosecrants Schreiber Sterling
Stewart Worthen
