This bill amends RCW 64.16.005 to keep the existing language that "any alien" may acquire and hold land as if a native citizen, but adds a new subsection that, beginning August 1, 2025, prohibits certain foreign interests associated with the government of the People's Republic of China from acquiring agricultural, forest, or mineral land. The ban applies directly to nonresident aliens and to foreign businesses, agents, trustees, or fiduciaries associated with that government, and also bars a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, trustee, or other business entity from acquiring such land if more than 20 percent of any class of stock or more than 20 percent of the ultimate beneficial interest is held by the same group associated with that government. The amendment creates entity-level ownership limits and an ownership prohibition for specified persons (a substantive change to land ownership law). It includes exemptions for land acquired by devise, inheritance, or in collection of debts or enforcement of liens (with such acquired land required to be disposed of within three years), and for citizens or subjects of foreign countries whose land rights are secured by treaty. Agricultural land tied to food processing facilities is explicitly exempted. The text provided does not define key terms (for example, who qualifies as "associated with the government of the People's Republic of China," or precise definitions of "nonresident alien," "foreign business," or the covered land types), does not explain how cities and counties designate land for this purpose, and does not state enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or which agencies would carry out or oversee compliance.

If enacted, starting August 1, 2025 the bill will block nonresident aliens and persons or business entities tied to the government of the People’s Republic of China from buying agricultural, forest, or mineral land that local governments have designated as such, and it will stop corporations or other entities from acquiring that land when more than 20% of their stock or beneficial interest is held by the same PRC‑associated group. Practically, that removes a set of potential buyers and investors from land markets, forces any party who acquires qualifying land through debt collection or lien enforcement to sell it within three years, and pushes businesses with mixed ownership to consider restructuring ownership or withdrawing from those land purchases to avoid the thresholds. The bill also leaves several important details open, so affected buyers, sellers, lenders, and cities face uncertainty and possible extra costs: it does not define key terms like “associated with the government of the People’s Republic of China,” does not explain how cities and counties must designate land, and does not set out enforcement or penalties. Those gaps mean likely delays or legal review in transactions, added compliance costs, and the risk that local designation choices will lead to uneven application across counties and cities.