Texas advances bill to block land sales to citizens and entities from hostile nations

By lauraharris // 2025-05-21

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Senate Bill 17 prohibits the sale or lease of land in Texas to individuals, companies or governments from countries deemed hostile to U.S. interests – currently China, Russia, Iran and North Korea – unless they are lawfully residing in the United States.
An amendment allows the Texas governor to add more countries to the restricted list, significantly broadening the bill's potential scope.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office is tasked with investigating potential violations; courts can force unlawful buyers to divest their property holdings.
Proponents, mostly Republicans, say the bill protects national security and Texas resources. Critics, including Democrats and civil rights groups, warn it could lead to discrimination and violate federal housing laws.
The bill passed the Texas House on May 9 and now returns to the Senate to reconcile changes. If signed into law, it will take effect on September 1, 2025, and apply only to future land transactions.

A controversial bill that will restrict land ownership in Texas by foreign nationals from countries deemed a threat to U.S. interests took a major step forward this May, clearing a key hurdle in the Texas House of Representatives. Senate Bill 17, which passed its third reading in the House Friday, May 9, by a vote of 86-59, would prohibit the sale or lease of "real property" in Texas to individuals, companies and governments from certain nations currently flagged on Washington's national security threat assessment. As it stands, the list includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. A late amendment to the bill gives the governor authority to designate additional countries as restricted, significantly expanding the potential scope of the law to protect the critical infrastructure, land and resources of the state from foreign influence. The bill also mandates that the Texas Attorney General's Office develop an investigative process to identify possible violations. If wrongdoing is found, courts could order buyers to divest their interest in the property through sale or lease termination. "As Senate Bill 17 has moved through the legislative process, we have taken the utmost care not to reduce the ability to buy property for those who have fled oppressive regimes and want to build an American life here," said State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-District 5), the House sponsor of the bill. "As the bill currently stands, those individuals who come here lawfully and remain here lawfully still have that opportunity." (Related: BLM land grab now expanding to Texas; AG Abbott defiantly warns 'Come and Take It.') The legislation now heads back to the Senate, where lawmakers will consider the changes made in the House. A previous version of the bill had already passed in the Senate. If ultimately signed into law, SB 17 would go into effect on Sept. 1, applying only to land transactions made after that date.

SB17 sparks debate between Democrats and Republicans

The bill has sparked debates between Democrats and Republicans who support and oppose it. For instance, State Rep. Salman Bhojani (D-District 92) warned that the bill's language and intent could open the door to discrimination, particularly against immigrants and Asian Americans legally residing in the state. "I understand the intent behind SB17. Protecting our state from foreign adversaries seeking to exploit our land for surveillance or harmful purposes is a serious concern and it's crucial we address those risks early," Bhojani said. "Unfortunately, the core of this legislation remains rooted in exclusion." Civil rights groups have raised alarms that the measure could violate the Fair Housing Act and foster a climate of suspicion and xenophobia. Critics also argue that current federal law already restricts foreign investment in sensitive industries and infrastructure. However, Hefner argued that the bill safeguards national security and helps defend Texas' critical infrastructure and natural resources from foreign influence. "If we don't pass SB 17 today in the House, we run the very real risk of losing our land, our natural resources and our supply chains to our adversaries," Hefner said during the bill's closing on Friday. "I implore you to stand with me today and send a powerful message to hostile foreign nations and their oppressive regimes that Texas is not for sale." Listen to Sen. John Thune (R-SD) as he warns about China's purchase of U.S. farmland in strategic locations. This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

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SB17 sparks debate between Democrats and Republicans

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