Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has indicated his support for a ban on ownership of Texas land by certain foreign entities, as the Texas Legislature prepares to consider legislation on the matter.
Senate Bill 147 by State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham) would prohibit the purchase of or acquisition of real property in Texas by hostile countries like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill also extends to companies headquartered in those countries or owned by individuals who are citizens of those countries.
“The past several years have seen more Texans alarmed by the increased acquisition of land by primarily Chinese interests,” Kolkhorst said after filing the bill. “The growing ownership of Texas land by some foreign entities is highly disturbing and raises red flags for many Texans. By comparison, as an American, go try to buy land near a Chinese military base and see how it works out for you. It would never happen there and it shouldn’t happen here. Passing this law delivers some basic safeguards to ensure Texans remain in control of Texas land.”
In 2021, State Sens. Donna Campbell (R–New Braunfels) and Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) filed Senate Bill 2116, also known as the “Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act,” which passed the Texas Legislature unanimously and bans all contracts or agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with critical infrastructure in Texas. Kolkhorst’s bill would add on to those previous efforts to ban foreign countries from infiltrating Texas’ land.
Gov. Greg Abbott showed his support for the bill, saying in a post on Twitter that he will sign it if it makes it to his desk.
A bill is filed in Texas legislature to ban citizens, governments & entities of China, Iran, North Korea & Russia from purchasing land in Texas.
I will sign it.
This follows a law I signed banning those countries from threatening our infrastructure.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 15, 2023
Concerned citizens can contact their elected officials to ask how they will vote to protect Texas land.
