(Texas Scorecard) – State Rep. David Spiller has filed two pieces of legislation focused on protecting Texas land from foreign ownership.
“As a practicing attorney of 38 years handling contested real estate litigation, as the owner of the oldest family-owned title company in the State of Texas, and as someone who routinely forms and sets up entities with the Texas Secretary of State’s office and oversees their operation, I feel that I understand the issues and challenges very well,” said Spiller.
House Bill 191 would prohibit countries that the United States Director of National Intelligence identifies as a risk to national security from purchasing or leasing Texas land. Currently there are four such countries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
House Bill 243 would allow the attorney general to utilize eminent domain to acquire “critical infrastructure” ownership from non-U.S. citizens, foreign businesses, or foreign governments.
Spiller’s legislation does not target individuals, just the governments themselves. It also applies to all land—not just land used for agricultural purposes—and bans foreign countries from leasing Texas land and purchasing minerals.
House Bill 409 by State Rep. Briscoe Cain, in contrast, would ban citizens of countries identified as national security risks from purchasing land, as well.
The banning of Texas land purchasing by China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, along with persons from these countries who are not U.S. citizens, is on the list of legislative priorities for the Texas Republican Party.
In May, House Speaker Dade Phelan formed a legislative committee for the purpose of studying a potential ban on Chinese land ownership after failing to prioritize the issue during the last session.
According to a recent poll by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, over 75 percent of respondents agreed that lawmakers should pass legislation that prohibits China and Chinese nationals from acquiring Texas land.
“It’s complicated, but something must be done. I believe these bills properly address those threats,” explained Spiller.
Bill filing is under way for the upcoming legislative session. The first day for filing was November 12. Filing will close March 15.