Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday ceremonially signed Senate Bill 17, a sweeping piece of legislation that bars individuals and entities tied to countries deemed hostile to the United States from buying land in Texas.
Abbott, flanked by House and Senate leaders, called SB 17 “the strongest law in the United States” on the issue and credited lawmakers for “making sure everyone knows Texas is not for sale.”
The new law is the latest step in an ongoing effort at the Texas Capitol to limit foreign influence over the state’s natural resources, agriculture, and critical infrastructure.
A Years-Long Fight Over Land Ownership
Concerns over foreign land ownership in Texas first gained momentum four years ago when Chinese billionaire Sun Guangxin attempted to buy roughly 140,000 acres in Val Verde County near Laughlin Air Force Base, with plans to build a wind farm. That proposal sparked bipartisan alarm, leading lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 2116 in 2021 to block companies linked to adversarial nations from owning critical infrastructure.
Momentum continued during the 88th Legislative Session with SB 147, authored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), which aimed to broadly restrict foreign purchases of Texas land. That effort faltered after pushback from immigrant communities and business groups, who warned it could fuel discrimination against Asian Americans.
Still, the debate laid the groundwork for SB 17 in the current session.
What the New Law Does
SB 17 prohibits land purchases by individuals, businesses, and government entities connected to four U.S.-designated adversarial nations: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. While legal residents and dual citizens may still buy property for use as a personal home, the law blocks investments or commercial purchases tied to those countries.
Supporters argue the law is needed to protect Texas farmland, energy resources, and military-adjacent properties from being acquired by governments with interests contrary to the U.S.
“We have 15 military installations in Texas, and we’re rich in farmland, water, oil and gas, and rare earth minerals,” Kolkhorst said at the signing ceremony. “If you’re a hostile foreign nation, you’re not going to own it.”
Contentious Debate
Despite its passage, SB 17 remains one of the most controversial measures of the 89th Legislative Session.
Democrats warned the law could unfairly target immigrants and chill investment from lawful residents. During House debate, lawmakers spent nearly six hours debating amendments, with Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) even proposing to narrow the ban to only those unlawfully in the U.S.—a move that split Republicans and was ultimately rejected.
Civil rights groups, including several Asian American organizations, condemned earlier versions of the proposal as discriminatory, staging rallies in Houston and other cities. Meanwhile, foreign media outlets, particularly in China, accused Texas of weaponizing land policy against immigrants.
Abbott and other Republicans pushed back, stressing that the measure targets foreign governments and entities, not individuals pursuing the “American dream.”
“This is about national security, not discrimination,” Abbott said. “We are preventing hostile countries from buying up our farmland and resources.”
A Growing National Concern
Texas is not alone in pursuing restrictions. At least 15 other states have recently passed or considered similar measures, citing concerns about foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report found that foreign entities own more than 40 million acres nationwide — including 5.3 million acres in Texas, more than any other state.
With SB 17 now law, Texas officials are expected to begin developing enforcement mechanisms to track and block land transactions tied to adversarial nations. That will likely involve cooperation among state regulators, the attorney general’s office, and county-level officials who oversee land sales.
Looking Ahead
Even as Abbott celebrated the law’s passage, critics predicted legal challenges. Questions remain over how the state will distinguish between hostile government-linked buyers and lawful residents with ties to countries like China or Iran.
Still, Republican leaders framed the move as a landmark step in safeguarding state sovereignty.
