Topic Modeling of U.S. State Legislation on Foreign Ownership of Land from 2018 to 2025

Abstract

The evolving international landscape is reshaping not only the foreign policy strategy of the United States but also exerting a profound influence on its domestic political dynamics. The US discourse on threats from adversaries has intensified public concern over foreign influence, prompting heightened regulatory attention to foreign activities within the country. Following federal trends, US states have developed their own policy responses that might either complement Washington initiatives or expand regulatory frameworks within their local jurisdictions. Acts based on defending «critical» infrastructure or «strategic» property near military installations, which are considered national security risks, are often designed to reduce opportunities for foreign persons or entities affiliated directly or indirectly with China. The research covers US state legislative acts, with particular attention to foreign property ownership regulations, which have prompted bipartisan support for protective measures and become a widespread practice since 2018. The analysis reveals patterns of similarities and differences between states’ approaches to implementing new regulations on foreign land ownership. Using thematic modeling, the authors rank the state’s legislative activity on land regulations and identify major thematic clusters within the collected body of legal texts. The authors argue that the US policy initiatives framed around countering foreign adversaries have fostered a climate of «foreign threat» alarmism at the state level, leading to broadening regulatory control over foreign activities even within domains formally regulated by federal authorities.