Texas Bans Land Purchases by China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed Senate Bill 17 into law, which prohibits individuals or entities from nations deemed adversarial from purchasing land or property in the state. The law, signed on June 20, will go into effect on September 1. It specifically targets nations identified by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) as posing national security risks in recent Annual Threat Assessments.

“I signed SB 17 which is the toughest ban in America on preventing the sale of our land and other property to individuals and companies from China, Iran, North Korea & Russia,” Gov. Abbott announced in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The legislation highlights China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as examples of adversarial nations listed in the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment. Under the law, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is authorized to investigate potential violations, which would be classified as felonies.

The bill applies to various types of property, including agricultural land, groundwater, mines or quarries, commercial and industrial properties, and residential properties. However, exemptions are made for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and individuals legally residing in the U.S. who intend to purchase a primary residence.