Senate Republicans Champion New Law to Protect Arizona from Foreign Enemies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Senate Republicans Champion New Law to Protect Arizona from Foreign Enemies

PHOENIX, ARIZONA—Senate Republicans are taking action to protect national security and sovereignty in Arizona, from foreign adversaries seeking to cause harm, with new legislation just signed into law from Senator Janae Shamp.

SB 1082 prohibits a foreign principal from a nation identified by the federal government as a direct threat to the United States from purchasing, owning, or acquiring real property in Arizona.

"The United States has been too lax with its policies of allowing foreign adversaries to own property across our great country. This is a direct threat to our national security. As we saw most recently with the Israel-Iran war, enemy agents embedded around sensitive installations, especially military and government locations, can launch attacks during a conflict. We want to minimize that risk in Arizona, especially since we are home to some of the greatest fighter pilots in the world at Luke Air Force Base," said Senator Shamp. " I have been working with my colleagues for nearly three years on this bill, and I am grateful for its successful outcome during this legislative session. As elected leaders, we have a responsibility to Arizonans, and to our oaths of office, to protect them and the future of our state from all those who might seek to cause harm, and this is a step in the right direction. Protecting our state's sovereignty is dependent on us implementing measures like SB 1082. It's time for Arizona to send a message to America's enemies that our land and property is not for sale – especially around our military bases!"

SB 1082 is the result of careful collaboration with Luke Air Force Base, county recorders, retired military members, and realtors to protect the mission of Arizona's four military bases. Foreign adversaries have been buying land around sensitive military bases across the United States and have sought to do the same in Arizona, increasing the risk of espionage attacks on America's armed forces and critical infrastructure.

Under SB 1082, countries impacted by the legislation are identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence as countries that pose a risk to the national security of the United States in each of the three most recent Annual Threat Assessments. The 2022, 2023, and 2024 Annual Threat Assessments identified China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as countries that pose a risk to the national security of the United States.

This bill takes effect on Friday, September 26.

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For more information, contact:

Kim Quintero

Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus

kquintero@azleg.gov