According to the lower house of parliament, the bill clarifies the rules governing land use by foreign citizens, stateless persons and companies with foreign participation. Under the proposed amendments, agricultural land may be used by these entities only through sublease arrangements.
The legislation would increase the maximum lease term for agricultural land from the current 30 years to 49 years. The same maximum lease period would also apply to non-agricultural land.
The bill also eases rules governing the use of non-agricultural land by allowing tenants who acquire land through auctions to sublease their plots. In addition, it formally establishes the legal framework for leasing land designated for individual housing construction.
At the same time, the proposed legislation would prohibit the transfer of several categories of land to foreign nationals. The restrictions would apply to land used for defense purposes, border areas, sites of historical and cultural significance, and forest fund land.
Lawmakers said the bill was revised before its second reading to reflect practical experience in enforcing existing legislation. They argued that the amendments would provide greater legal certainty, strengthen state oversight of land relations and promote more efficient land use.
The bill passed its second reading with 105 votes in favor and one against, while three lawmakers did not vote. During the third reading, it was merged with a separate bill on the protection of forest land and approved with 102 votes.
The legislation will now be reviewed by the Senate. If approved by the upper chamber, it will be submitted to the president for signature.
The bill was first introduced in early June. At the time, lawmakers said its purpose was to systematize the land rights of non-residents in Uzbekistan and create a more predictable legal framework for long-term foreign investment projects.
The proposed changes were first discussed during a presidential meeting in April, when authorities announced plans to introduce a unified maximum lease term of 49 years for all categories of land while restricting foreign access to certain types of land plots.
