Texas Enacts Ban on Real Estate Purchases by Foreign Adversaries

Texas Enacts Ban on Real Estate Purchases by Foreign Adversaries

Texas has emerged as the latest state to enact legislation prohibiting land and property purchases by individuals or entities from nations deemed adversarial. This move signals a growing trend across the United States aimed at addressing concerns over foreign influence in domestic real estate.

Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 into law over the weekend, establishing restrictions on countries identified as security threats in the intelligence community’s 2025 Annual Threat Assessment. These countries include China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The legislation categorizes ‘real property’ to include agricultural land, commercial or industrial properties, residential properties, and areas designated for mining or water use.

The backdrop to such legislative measures is a climate of increasing global tensions, which has intensified the focus on safeguarding U.S. assets from foreign acquisitions. Yet, critics argue that these efforts may cast too wide a net, potentially leading to discrimination and unjust profiling.

Critics’ Concerns Over Legislative Language

In response to the passage of S.B. 17, the nonprofit organization Asian Americans Advancing Justice expressed outrage, stating that the law “creates an overly broad net that places innocent foreign nationals at risk of racial profiling.” This raises concerns about potential violations of individuals’ civil rights amid a surge in protective measures.

Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs also offers a noteworthy perspective. She vetoed a similar bill aimed at curbing Chinese land acquisitions, citing the absence of