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CHARLESTON -- Legislation that will prohibit foreign countries on U.S. government watch lists and fly-by-night property speculators from purchasing land at county tax sales was approved by Gov. Jim Justice, adding another tool in the toolbox for local governments.
Senate Bill 548, clarifying what parties can redeem delinquent property and limiting those entitled to bid, was one of several bills signed by Justice before a midnight deadline Wednesday. The bill goes into effect June 9.
State Senate Majority Whip Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, was the lead sponsor of SB 548, a bill that was part of State Auditor J.B. McCuskey's legislative agenda this year.
The bill prohibits citizens of or entities organized in or controlled by citizens or governments of any country designated as a "Country of Particular Concern" by the U.S. State Department from participating in any public auction and barred from purchasing unsold lands at county tax sales.
There are 12 nations on the State Department's list of countries of particular concern, including the People's Republic of China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Cuba, Burma, Eritrea, Nicaragua, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The new law allows the State Auditor to refuse to sell unsold lands to a potential buyer that is subject to the "countries of particular concern" designation.
McCuskey, in a Friday interview in his offices at the State Capitol Building, said that to his knowledge, West Virginia is the first state in the nation to pass such a bill.
"Senator Weld and I are very proud to be leading the country in preventing not only China, but Russia and Saudi Arabia and all of the countries that the State Department has deemed as countries of concern from purchasing our land and mineral rights and farmland," McCuskey said. "It prevents people from those places from buying our property. Their nefarious purpose is to harm American independence, energy independence, food independence, and just general livelihood."