Texas targets overseas land buys with nation’s 'strongest invoice' in opposition to China, others

[ad_1] Texas lawmakers are charging forward with what they name the nation’s strongest legislative effort but to dam hostile overseas powers from buying land within the Lone Star State.

Championed by Republican state Rep. Cole Hefner and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Senate Invoice 17 (SB17) is designed to cease governments and entities tied to international locations like China, Iran , North Korea and Russia from gaining a foothold on Texas soil.

In an unique interview with Fox Information Digital, Hefner described SB17 as "mannequin laws" geared toward shutting down land purchases that pose a nationwide safety menace.

"This invoice is about actions and affiliations, not race, not nationality," Hefner mentioned. "Should you’re appearing on behalf of a hostile overseas adversary, we’re going to take that land again."

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Texas state Rep. Cole Hefner, middle, speaks to fellow state representatives within the Home chamber on the State Capitol in Austin. (Tamir Kalifa/Getty Photos)

The invoice is in direct response to real-world occasions.

Hefner cited the 2021 case of a retired Chinese language basic buying over 140,000 acres close to Laughlin Air Pressure Base.

"We have [also] seen the try of overseas actors or hostile overseas adversaries to purchase land near meals processing crops," Hefner mentioned. "And it is simply one thing that we've discovered the extra we dig into it, the extra we discover that there is a number of issues we do not know and a number of vulnerabilities which can be on the market."

The invoice prohibits entities and people affiliated with governments designated as nationwide safety threats, based mostly on the U.S. Director of Nationwide Intelligence’s annual assessments, from purchasing real estate if these purchases pose dangers to public well being or security.

The regulation empowers the state's lawyer basic to analyze, block and even reverse such land offers by court-ordered receivership.

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Pump jacks line a area in Luling, Texas. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle by way of Getty Photos)

Underneath SB17, "actual property" contains agricultural, industrial, industrial, and residential land in addition to mines, minerals, and timber. The regulation contains key exemptions for U.S. residents, lawful everlasting residents, and property supposed as a private homestead.

"The robust factors of our invoice is that it may well apply to anybody if we are able to show they're appearing as an agent," mentioned Hefner. "So even when they're from a pleasant nation, however they're truly on behalf of a overseas adversary, then they are going to be topic to the invoice."

The invoice offers the lawyer basic investigative powers, and authority to nominate receivers to handle or promote properties acquired in violation of the regulation.

Hefner pushed again exhausting on critics who declare the invoice is xenophobic. "This has nothing to do with pores and skin shade or ethnicity," he mentioned. "It’s about defending Texans and Individuals from overseas espionage and affect."

The Texas State Capitol in Austin. (Brandon Bell/Getty Photos)

He additionally pressured that SB17 shouldn't be seen as a partisan transfer. "It should not be a partisan concern. That is about nationwide safety. That is about retaining our residents secure," mentioned Hefner. "It is not about Republican or Democrat, it is not liberal or conservative. It's simply caring for our folks.

"And I imagine that is the, you realize, the primary accountability of the federal government is to make it possible for folks can reside free and secure of their state."

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SB17 is ready to take impact Sept. 1. Hefner mentioned he hopes the laws sparks a nationwide effort.

"We have to get up," he mentioned. "That is about securing the homeland, not enjoying politics."

Fox Information Digital's Nick Butler contributed to this report.

Jasmine is a author at Fox Information Digital and a navy partner based mostly in New Orleans. Tales will be despatched to jasmine.baehr@fox.com

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