AUSTIN — A Texas Senate bill that would ban governments, citizens and businesses from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia from buying land in Texas was amended following backlash from the Asian community.
Senate Bill 147, filed by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a Brenham Republican, sought to ban a governmental entity or company headquartered in one of the listed countries, or where a majority of the stock owners are from those four countries, from acquiring property in the state.
It would also disallow individuals from those countries who may be living in the United States legally but are not yet citizens from purchasing property.
Kolkhorst said the reason for the bill is to prevent those governments and anyone acting on behalf of those governments from purchasing large swaths of Texas land as a gateway to harm Texans or Texas industries and supplies.
The bill has received support from state leaders including Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who promised to sign the bill if passed.
Following negative reactions, Kolkhorst amended the bill in a Senate State Affairs Committee meeting Thursday to make clear that the prohibition does not apply to United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, including dual citizens.
She said the prohibition does not include homesteads.
Dozens of Asian Americans, including many Chinese Texans who would be impacted, provided public testimony in opposition of the bill.
During hours of testimony, they said they understand there is a legitimate national security interest in a bill like this, but they believe elected officials are going about it the wrong way.
“At a time when all Texans want real solutions to problems like school safety, our electric grid, our maternal mortality rate and ensuring classrooms have qualified teachers, the Legislature has instead decided to fuel anti-Asian…
Read the full article here