Texas House passes bill barring Chinese citizens from owning property

The Texas House of Representatives voted 86-59 on Friday to advance legislation that would bar citizens from China and other nations from purchasing property in the state.

Senate Bill 17, sponsored by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), specifically targets citizens from countries designated as national security threats — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — in the U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s annual assessment.

The House-amended version exempts visa holders, lawful permanent residents and dual citizens from the ban, significantly narrowing the original Senate version. An amendment introduced by Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth) specifically grants Gov. Greg Abbott unilateral power to add other countries and “transnational criminal organizations” to the restricted list without legislative oversight.

Supporters frame the bill as essential for national security. “We must not allow oppressive regimes who actively seek to do us harm to seize control and dictate their terms over our economy, supply chain and our daily lives,” said Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), the bill’s House sponsor.

Critics, on the other hand, call the measure xenophobic and harmful to immigrants. “This is a loud and clear message that Asians don’t belong in this country,” said Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston), the chamber’s top Democrat and lone Chinese American legislator. “When the attacks come, when the hate crimes start, it will be against all Asians — anyone with an Asian face.”

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Austin on Sunday, carrying signs that read “stop the hate” and “housing is a human right.” Organizer Alice Yi, co-founder of Asian Texans for Justice, called the bill “racist” and stressed, “This is our country too.”

The legislation reflects mounting political tensions between Washington and Beijing following President Donald Trump’s return to office, with similar bans targeting Chinese property ownership emerging in multiple states. Around 5.7 million acres in Texas are foreign-owned, with China reportedly accounting for 3.6% of that land. Leaders of multiple Chinese American organizations are now considering challenging the bill in federal court should it become law, similar to how a comparable Florida law was temporarily halted by a federal appeals court.

The bill now returns to the Senate, which must approve House amendments before it goes to Abbott’s desk. If signed, the law would take effect on Sept. 1 and apply to property purchases after that date.