Texas SB 17: New Bill Could Ban Foreign Land Ownership in Texas

Texas Senate Bill 17 Advances

• 📌 Senate Bill 17 has moved forward after a late-night vote, proposing restrictions on who can own land in Texas.
• 🏛️ The bill targets foreign land ownership from four countries considered national security threats: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
• 🚫 If passed, it would prohibit individuals and entities from these nations from purchasing residential, commercial, or industrial property in Texas.

Key Amendments and Concerns

• ✍️ An amendment approved by House lawmakers grants Governor Greg Abbott the power to expand the list of restricted countries.
• 📊 Texas currently leads the nation in foreign-owned land, with approximately 5.7 million acres held by international entities.
• ⚠️ Democrats have raised concerns that the bill lacks protections for visa holders and lawful residents from the targeted countries.
• 🔬 Republicans argue the bill is crucial for protecting Texas's natural resources and critical infrastructure from adversarial nations.

Legislative Path Forward

• 🗳️ SB17 now heads to the House for a third reading, its final vote in that chamber.
• 🔄 If passed by the House, the bill will return to the Senate to approve the changes made by the House.
• 📜 Finally, the bill will be sent to Governor Greg Abbott's desk for his consideration.