Texas bans China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing land

Texas has become the most recent state to ban the purchase of land and properties by citizens or entities linked to nations considered adversaries of the United States.

Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 (S.B. 17), which prevents countries identified as threats in the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. intelligence community from acquiring real estate within the state, including land.

The law lists China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as the countries whose individuals or legal entities will not be able to acquire agricultural land, commercial or industrial properties, residences, or land used for mining or water extraction in Texas.

The measure, which takes effect on September 1, was justified by its proponents as a response to growing national security concerns, especially in light of attempts to purchase land near military bases.

The legislation provides exceptions: U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and individuals with legal status seeking to acquire a primary residence are exempt.

Lease contracts of less than one year are also permitted. Additionally, the Texas attorney general is authorized to investigate possible violations of this law, which will constitute a felony.

The measure has been extremely well received by conservative groups and the general public. Michael Lucci, founder of the popular group State Armor Action, which seeks to eliminate the influence of the CCP in the United States, praised the law as a necessary response to the "Chinese Communist Party's attempt to establish espionage operations within U.S. territory."

Lucci warned that it's not just about land, but about strategic assets such as drones, solar panels, seaports, and other critical infrastructure where China has consolidated a concerning presence.

There are some precedents for this type of law, including some that have not managed to become law or have not even passed legislative chambers due to the strong influence of the Democratic Party in the discussions.

So far, 25 states have passed similar laws to date, an increase from the 22 reported in March. Additionally, 15 federal bills addressing this issue are currently under debate in Congress.

In Arizona, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs initially vetoed a bill that would have prohibited the purchase of properties by Chinese entities, arguing that it lacked "clear enforcement criteria" and could lead to "arbitrary measures."

However, after receiving strong criticism, Hobbs proposed a new, stricter version of the law, stating that the previous one was "weak against China" and allowed purchases near military facilities.

Texas's legislation comes shortly after the arrest of two Chinese citizens for attempting to introduce dangerous pathogens into the United States, an incident that intensified concern about biological threats and espionage.

At the federal level, Republican lawmakers introduced a bill on Monday that would increase oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign adversaries.

The proposal would incorporate the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) into the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), and would require the USDA to report to the committee any acquisition of agricultural land by countries considered threats to national security.

New restrictions are also expected in New Hampshire and North Carolina, where similar proposals are awaiting the signatures of the state governors.