By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

A bill filed by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst that addresses hostile foreign ownership of agricultural land in Texas passed the Senate and moved to the House for consideration.

SB 17 would prohibit certain foreign individuals, companies or government entities from purchasing private property in Texas if the countries are identified in recent Annual Threat Assessment reports by the U.S. intelligence community. Currently, those countries are Russia, North Korea, Iran and China.

“As passed, SB 17 is the most comprehensive prohibition on adversarial control of land and natural resources in the U.S.,” Kolkhorst said in a news release. “This legislation will ensure that hostile nations do not control Texas’ most precious assets. This is a matter of national security. Texas must act now to protect our land, food sources, water and natural resources.”

The bill passed the Senate with a 24-7 vote.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made the issue a priority for the 89th Texas Legislature.

“It is common sense and good state policy to prohibit our foreign adversaries from purchasing Texas land,” Patrick said in a statement. “Preventing private property from being sold to entities from adversarial nations is a basic tenet of national security. Many Texans have been increasingly concerned by this growing practice over the last few years.”

The legislation addresses growing concerns about foreign ownership of Texas property and the implications that has for national security.

“SB 17 is one of roughly a dozen foreign ownership bills that have been filed this session in the Senate, as well as in the House,” Blake Roach, Texas Farm Bureau associate legislative director, said. “This bill would help ensure the safety of our critical resources here in the state. This legislation ensures that foreign ownership would not result in an unequal or unfair foreign trade advantage.”

Texas Farm Bureau supports changes in statute that would prevent the foreign ownership of agricultural land that results in an unfair trade advantage or endangers U.S. national security.

For more information on Texas Farm Bureau’s legislative priorities, visit texasfarmbureau.org/advocacy.