Facts

• In the wake of Republican Texas state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst's proposed ban on certain foreign purchases of Texas real estate — introduced to the Senate in December — which includes Chinese nationals, some activists and politicians are calling the measure anti-Asian and xenophobic.^[1]
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott came out in support of the bill, which also prohibits citizens from Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing land in the Lone Star State.^[2]
• Senate Bill 147 would also apply to "governmental entities" of the four prohibited countries as well as companies headquartered there or "directly or indirectly controlled" by their governments.^[3]
• The impetus for the bill reportedly dates back to 2020 when Chinese billionaire Sun Guangxin bought thousands of acres of land in Del Rio, Texas, and announced plans to build a wind farm near a US Air Force base.^[4]
• Following that acquisition, Texas banned infrastructure deals with individuals tied to what it considers hostile governments, including China. Lawmakers in various states have been keeping an eye on land bought by foreign entities, especially agricultural land.^[5]
• Texas Republicans cite national security as the underlying reason behind the proposed measure, with Kolkhorst most recently calling attention to the Chinese balloon that traversed the continental US before being shot down. Meanwhile, opponents maintain that the bill is discriminatory.^[6]