Fact Check: Texas bans property purchases from nations deemed national security threats
What We Know
In May 2025, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 17, which prohibits individuals connected to the governments of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran from purchasing land in Texas. This legislation was supported by Governor Greg Abbott, who signed the bill into law shortly after its passage (Texas Tribune, Courthouse News). The bill aims to enhance state security by preventing foreign adversaries from acquiring land and resources within Texas.
Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the need to protect Texas's resources from "adversarial nations" and stated that the legislation is a proactive measure to address concerns about foreign ownership of land before it becomes widespread (Texas Tribune). The bill also includes provisions that allow the governor to add more countries to the list of those restricted from purchasing land in Texas (Texas Tribune).
Analysis
The claim that Texas has banned property purchases from nations deemed national security threats is accurate, as evidenced by the passage of Senate Bill 17. The bill's intent is clearly stated: to prevent individuals from specific countries, identified as national security threats, from acquiring land in Texas (Texas Tribune).
However, the legislation has faced criticism for potentially being discriminatory. Advocacy groups, such as Asian Texans for Justice, argue that the bill revives historical injustices against Asian immigrants and could lead to racial profiling (Texas Tribune). Critics also highlight the legal challenges faced by similar laws in other states, such as Florida, where a comparable law was deemed likely unconstitutional by a federal court (Texas Tribune).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, with the Texas Tribune being a reputable news organization known for its in-depth reporting on Texas politics. The Courthouse News also provides credible legal insights into the implications of the law.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Texas has banned property purchases from nations deemed national security threats is substantiated by the passage of Senate Bill 17, which explicitly prohibits such transactions. While the law has faced criticism and potential legal challenges, the legislative action taken by Texas confirms the accuracy of the claim.
