Legislative Blog

J.B. Williams, J.D.


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A Bit of Background

The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 89th Legislative Session as it relates to that topic.

Brief Summary of Texas

Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.

Summary of 89th Legislative Session

This subtopic contains a list of some of the "new" laws reviews. Total laws signed/voted into effect = 1,192. This will begin with an appropriations bill, and then go through a few that went into effect immediately. The following dates were when different laws took, or will take, effect: 7/1/25; 9/1/25; 9/5/25; 9/17/25; 10/1/25; 12/5/25; 1/1/26; 6/1/26; 8/1/26; 9/1/26; 1/1/27; 4/1/27; 9/1/27; 1/1/28

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Blog Summary

SB 17 - Those associated with a designated country may not purchase real property.



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Limiting real property purchases

Published: 2026-09-15

SB 17 - 15 pages

This bill begins with the legislature taking notice of the following:

  1. China is dominant in mining and processing of critical materials, and this creates a threat;
  2. China is will to restrict global access;
  3. China is using aggressive whole-of-government approach to become a global science and technology superpower;
  4. China is using illicit means;
  5. China has stolen hundreds of gigabytes of intellectual property;
  6. China is investing in collecting health and gentic data;
  7. China poses a health risk to the world;
  8. China has increased its capabilities to conduct covert influence operations and disseminate disinformation;

  1. Russia is a persistent counterintelligence and cyber attack threat;
  2. Russia intentionally stokes political discord in the West;
  3. Russia discreetly engages American and hides their involvement;

  1. Iran is willing to conduct aggressive cyber operations making it a threat;
  2. Iran is committed to surrogate networks inside the US;
  3. Iran has tried to conduct lethal operations in the US;

  1. North Korea may expand their cyber espionage operations;
  2. North Korea continues to pursue military capabilities to threaten the US;
  3. North Korea will continue to defy international sanctions and engage in illicit activities - this includes stealing cryptocurrency, trading UN-proscribed goods to source and fund North Korea's priorities;

The cooperation of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea has grown rapidly, reinforcing threats.

A court may appoint a receiver in an action by a vendor to vacate a fraudulent purchase of property. This now includes an action by the attorney general under the Property Code, Subchapter H, Chapter 5.

Defines agricultural land as that used in the production of plants and fruits grown for human or animal consumption, or plants grown for production of fibers, floriculture, silviculture, viticulture, horticulture, or planting seeds; or domestic or native farm/ranch animals kept for use/profit. And a designated county is one identified by the US Director of National Intelligence as a country that poses a risk to US national security in at least 1 of 3 Annual Threat Assessments. Or it can be a country so designated by the Texas Governor. A transnational criminal organization means 2 or more persons who are citizens of or domiciles in a designated county, with leadership who operate internationally, and regularly associate to engage in corruption, violence or other criminal activities.

The following may not purchase real property in Texas:

  1. a government entity of a designated country;
  2. a company or organization that is headquartered in a designated country, directly or indirectly controlled by the government of a designated country, owned by or majority owned by individuals (designated by *), or designated by the governor;
  3. a company or organization that is owned by or majority owned by a company or organization as listed above;
  4. * a person who is domiciled in a designated country, a citizen of a designated country who is domiciled outside the US, a citizen of a designated county who is unlawfully present in the US; a citizen of a country not the US or acting on behalf of a designated country; or
  5. a member of the ruling political party in a designated country

A purchase by one of those limited through the above is considered a state jail felony. A civil penalty may be enacted to be the greater of $250,000 or 50% of the market value of the interest in the real property.

 


J.B. Williams, J.D.

4,312 federal laws were passed from 1995 through December 2016.
Along with 88,819 federal rules and regulations.


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