MADISON, WI – Senator Romaine Robert Quinn (R-Birchwood) voted in the State Senate today to remove the influence of foreign adversaries from Wisconsin, including land ownership, educational partnerships, and data sharing.
Quinn voted in favor of Senate Bill 7, which prohibits foreign adversaries from owning land in Wisconsin. It would also require foreign adversaries to divest any land already owned. “This legislation is long overdue to protect Wisconsin’s critical resources,” Quinn said. “America’s enemies should not have a stake in our farmland, food systems, supply chains, or anywhere in our communities.”
The list of foreign adversaries includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
“Over the past decade, foreign ownership of U.S. farmland has nearly doubled – and Chinese agricultural land ownership has increased by 2700%,” Quinn said. “This bill protects Wisconsin from those who wish us harm from acting on many potential threats.”
Quinn voted for a package of bills that will prevent influence by foreign adversaries in several ways, including:
- Assembly Bill 415 prohibits officials, employees, or contractors of state agencies from using work-related electronic devices to access social media, software, applications, or artificial intelligence tools owned or controlled by a foreign adversary.
- Assembly Bill 663 prohibits University of Wisconsin system institutions from entering into research partnerships, collaboration agreements, or accepting grants from foreign adversaries.
- Assembly Bill 672 enhances penalties for crimes committed on behalf of foreign governments to intimidate or silence individuals, known as transnational repression. Foreign adversaries increasingly are targeting Americans, legal residents, and others in the U.S. who exercise their First Amendment rights—whether through criticism, dissent, or advocacy. Adversaries operate beyond their own borders to threaten, stalk, assault, or otherwise repress individuals and communities.
- Assembly Bill 673 bans medical or research facilities in Wisconsin from using genetic sequencers or software made by companies tied to foreign adversaries. This bill helps protect genetic data of Wisconsinites.
“The threats from our enemies are real and growing,” Quinn said. “These bills are vital to our national security by prohibiting countries who hate America from influencing and ultimately destroying our way of life.”
The bills passed by the Senate will now head to the desk of Governor Evers to be signed into law or rejected by veto.
Last Update: Feb 19, 2026 10:15 am CST
