Lawmakers look to curb espionage on and around Utah's military bases

An F-22 Raptor prepares for take off at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. (Photo by)
Utah lawmakers advanced a bill on Monday that attempts to rein in foreign governments that want to purchase land in Utah, while trying to curb what lawmakers say is a growing form of espionage posing a threat to the state's military installations.
HB430 passed out of the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Committee with unanimous approval from lawmakers. It will now be considered by the entire Senate body.
The bill builds on past legislation from Pierucci that targets restricted foreign entities — Russia, China, North Korea and Iran. That includes a law preventing these countries from purchasing land in Utah, and a follow up bill that bars companies associated with these countries from buying land.
Pierucci's HB430 has two main focuses. It would require county recorders to provide a form to people purchasing land where they can disclose their relationship with a foreign government. If the person does not disclose connections to a restricted foreign entity (for instance, having served in the Russian military) or that they're buying the land on behalf of a restricted foreign entity, they can be charged with a third-degree felony.
And, the bill targets a bizarre form of espionage that Pierucci says is a growing threat. A 2023 report from The Wall Street Journal found more than 100 incidents where Chinese nationals, posing as tourists or food delivery drivers, tried to enter U.S. military bases.
'Depending on who's at the gate, they may let them through,' said Pierucci. 'Those individuals can go take a little drive around the base, take some pictures and leave.'
Pierucci's bill would direct food delivery services to designate military bases as off limits, while creating a drop zone outside of the base so people can more securely receive deliveries.
'If someone really needs their Popeyes, or whatever it is, they're going to need to drop it off out front and not go into the base,' she said.
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