Senator Pete Ricketts has announced the introduction of the Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act, a legislative effort aimed at addressing foreign ownership of agricultural land in Nebraska. Through a series of posts on March 26, 2026, Ricketts outlined the motivation and key provisions of the bill.
In his first statement, Ricketts wrote, “Farms and ranches are the bedrock of the Good Life in Nebraska. Communist China threatens this. To combat Communist China’s purchasing of ag land, I’m introducing another bill called The Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act. This bill has some key components:” (March 26, 2026).
He continued by linking food security to national security concerns: “Food security is national security. Nebraska farmers and ranchers are proud of their land and the crops that grow from it. The PLOT Act helps keep foreign adversaries like Communist China get away with purchasing our land.” (March 26, 2026).
Ricketts also described how the proposed legislation would affect reporting requirements: “The PLOT Act strengths and increases transparency in USDA’s AFIDA reporting system. Currently, reporting requirements are triggered when a foreign person holds at least a 10% ownership interest or when a domestic entity is at least 50% owned or controlled by a foreign person. The” (March 26, 2026).
Senator Pete Ricketts represents Nebraska in the U.S. Senate and serves on several committees focused on national policy. His career includes leadership roles as governor—where he emphasized tax relief and workforce development—and service on various boards such as TD Ameritrade and the Chicago Cubs (source). He also engages in community initiatives through organizations like the Mid-America Council of the Boy Scouts and Opportunity Education Foundation (source). Ricketts grew up in Nebraska City and Omaha, holds degrees from Westside High School and the University of Chicago, and resides in Omaha with his family (source).
The PLOT Act proposal follows broader debates over foreign investment in U.S. farmland amid concerns about national security and agricultural independence.
