**Texas Nearing Ban on Certain Land Sales to Foreign Entities**

In a significant legislative move, Texas lawmakers have approved a bill aimed at prohibiting land sales to individuals associated with the governments of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran. The bill, perceived as a measure to safeguard national security, is now awaiting the governor's endorsement, which is expected given his prior support.

Despite a federal court ruling asserting that a similar law in Florida may exceed state authority, Senate Bill 17 has successfully advanced in Texas. This bill is championed by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, who argues that addressing foreign ownership of Texan land is vital to national security before it becomes a widespread issue. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's 2021 land report, investors from the four listed countries own a small fraction of U.S. farmland, with Chinese investors holding about 383,000 acres – less than 1% of total foreign-held acreage.

Proponents of the bill, including Rep. Cole Hefner, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant, assert that the legislation will prevent adversarial regimes from gaining control over critical resources and infrastructure in Texas. The state Senate passed the reconciled version of the bill with a 25-6 vote, while the House approved it with an 85-57 vote, ensuring it crossed the legislative hurdle before the session's deadline.

Key amendments were retained in the bill, granting the governor the authority to add more countries to the restricted list, limiting leaseholders to yearly rentals, and forbidding members of ruling political parties in the specified countries from purchasing land. The legislation requires that buyers must legally reside in the U.S. and use the property as a primary residence, excluding those on work or student visas from acquiring land for business purposes.

Criticism of the bill has been vocal, particularly from organizations such as Asian Texans for Justice, which label it discriminatory and reminiscent of past racial injustices against Asian immigrants. The group cautions that the bill could lead to costly legal battles for Texans. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas also raised concerns, warning that the policy could result in racial profiling and infringe upon constitutional protections.

Texas is not alone in pursuing such measures; at least 22 other states have initiated similar bills in recent years. Florida's law, broader in its inclusivity of countries like Cuba, Syria, and Venezuela, was struck down by a U.S. District Court in 2023. However, the law remains effective while under appeal.

The U.S. Department of Justice has criticized such laws, stating they violate federal civil rights and constitutional provisions. The Texas chapter of the ACLU echoes this sentiment, arguing that discrimination based on national origin undermines legal protections and distorts U.S. foreign policy prerogatives. With these challenges ahead, the implementation and legal scrutiny of Senate Bill 17 will be closely watched.