The law also limits some aliens from leasing houses or apartments for more than a year, local outlet kera news first reported.
Stiff criminal penalties
Greg Abbott government signed the measure in the law and set it up as a protection against foreign influence.
“It’s very simple. Hostile foreign opponents such as China, Russia, Iran and Noord -Korea, as well as foreign terrorist organizations such as TREN de Aragua, are not allowed to have a country in Texas,” Abbott said in a press release. “They should not gain access to our critical infrastructure, and they are not allowed to operate our limit.
“Stiff, criminal penalties will be inflicted to those who violate these laws.”
The legislation was written by the Republican Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who said it was manufactured to resist constitutional challenges.
“This legislation is different [than similar, earlier legislation]Better and more constitutionally healthy and based on national security issues, “Kolkhorst told Kera News.” In the meantime, I asked my employees to work with the best legal spirits to make a constitutionally solid but strict bill to protect Texas. “
Kolkhorst mentioned public protest on a Chinese company with ties with the Chinese Communist Party purchasing 140,000 hectares near Laughlin Air Force Base as a catalyst for the account.
Pushing civil rights groups back
Lt. Gov. Then Patrick also supported the measure and called it ‘common sense and good state policy’.
“Preventing private property that is sold to entities by opponents is a basic principle of national security,” said Patrick. “Many Texans have been worried about this growing practice in recent years.”
However, civil rights groups claim that the law focuses unfairly on immigrants and Asian communities.
In May, the ACLU from Texas Said SB 17 would undermine equal protection rights.
“SB 17 denies people who have meaningful access to housing and business opportunities,” said Sarah Cruz, policy and advocacy strategist for the rights of immigrants, “the organization said.” The bill would promote racial profiling against citizens and non-citizens who want to buy or lease ownership, as well as sellers to discriminate against potential buyers. “
The Chinese American legal defense -alliance A lawsuit filed on behalf of three visa holders from China, but the case was rejected after a judge ruled that the claimants were not directly affected by the law.
Community organizer Jason Yuan criticized the measure and said it should be renamed “The Chinese Exclusion Act of 2025.”
Texas is the home of at least 120,000 people born on mainland China, according to 2023 data published by NPR.
National trend
The State agrees with more than two dozen others – including Florida – who have established restrictions on the ownership of foreign real estate since 2021, with a lot focused on China.
The increase in legislation coincided with increased American China stresses, including the incident by 2023 with a Chinese surveillance balloon.
Proponents claim that the measures protect land, food and water resources, while opponents say they are striving for discrimination.
“This is a matter of national security. Texas must now occur to protect our country, food sources, water and natural resources,” said Kolkhorst.
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