A C-5M Super Galaxy takes-off from Travis Air Force Base in Solano County on April 28, 2021. Photo by Cameron Otte, U.S. Air Force via AP Photo

Assemblymember Devon Mathis (R-Hanford) has introduced legislation aimed at keeping prohibited foreign actors from owning property within 50 miles of a U.S. military or California National Guard base.

AB 2306 would authorize the California Military Department to develop statewide policy to create such a buffer zone.

Under the text, a “prohibited foreign actor” is defined as a “nonmarket economy country” or a country that poses a risk to the national security of the U.S., which includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, according to the most recent intelligence community threat assessment.

“Nonmarket economy country” is defined in trade law as a country that doesn’t adhere to market pricing principles and is subject to anti-dumping duties. These countries currently include China, Russian Federation, Vietnam, Azerbaijan and Armenia, according to the International Trade Administration.

“Our Military installations train & house our State and Nation’s Service Members and should be treated as the sensitive areas they are. 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,” Mathis said in a statement. “There are many other instances where hostile foreign actors have purchased land not too far from critical military installations. Currently, there is no State policy to prevent aggressive foreign actors from acquiring such sensitive lands. AB 2306 will keep nefarious foreign actors from gaining access to some of our most sensitive locations. In our highly evolving technological world, it is paramount that we take the necessary steps to ensure our safety.”

It was a Chinese company that sought to purchase a corn milling plant near Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Last year, it was shadowy land purchases around Travis Air Force Base in Solano County that drew renewed scrutiny of foreign land ownership around sensitive areas. That turned out to be Silicon Valley investors seeking to build a new city.

Mathis, a military veteran, co-authored a similar bill, AB 475, last year that died in the Judiciary Committee.

On March 19, AB 2306 — the latest bill — received unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee and moves to the Committee on Military & Veterans Affairs.