Bill Text: TX HB17 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 69)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2025-04-02 - Left pending in committee [HB17 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB17-Introduced.html

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89R8449 DRS-D
By: Hefner H.B. No. 17

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property
by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 64.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A court of competent jurisdiction may appoint a
receiver:
(1) in an action by a vendor to vacate a fraudulent
purchase of property;
(2) in an action by a creditor to subject any property
or fund to the creditor's [his] claim;
(3) in an action between partners or others jointly
owning or interested in any property or fund;
(4) in an action by a mortgagee for the foreclosure of
the mortgage and sale of the mortgaged property;
(5) for a corporation that is insolvent, is in
imminent danger of insolvency, has been dissolved, or has forfeited
its corporate rights; [or]
(6) in an action by the attorney general under
Subchapter H, Chapter 5, Property Code; or
(7) in any other case in which a receiver may be
appointed under the rules of equity.
SECTION 2. Section 5.005, Property Code, is amended to read
as follows:
Sec. 5.005. ALIENS. Except as provided by Subchapter H, an
[An] alien has the same real and personal property rights as a
United States citizen.
SECTION 3. Chapter 5, Property Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. PURCHASE OF OR ACQUISITION OF TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY
BY CERTAIN FOREIGN INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES
Sec. 5.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Company" means a sole proprietorship,
organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or
limited liability company, including a wholly owned subsidiary,
majority-owned subsidiary, parent company, or affiliate of those
entities or business associations, that exists to make a profit.
(2) "Designated country" means:
(A) China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia; or
(B) a country designated by the governor under
Section 5.254.
Sec. 5.252. EXCEPTIONS: UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND CERTAIN
LAWFUL RESIDENTS; LEASEHOLD PROPERTY. This subchapter does not
apply to:
(1) an individual who is:
(A) a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the
United States; or
(B) a citizen of a foreign country who is not
domiciled in a designated country;
(2) a company or other entity that is owned by or under
the control of:
(A) one or more individuals described by
Subdivision (1); and
(B) no individual described by Section 5.253; or
(3) a leasehold interest in land or improvements
constructed upon a leasehold.
Sec. 5.253. PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE OF OR ACQUISITION OF
TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY. Notwithstanding any other law, the
following may not purchase or otherwise acquire title to real
property in this state:
(1) a governmental entity of a designated country;
(2) a company or other entity that is:
(A) headquartered in a designated country;
(B) directly or indirectly held or controlled by
the government of a designated country; or
(C) owned by or the majority of stock or other
ownership interest of which is held or controlled by individuals
described by Subdivision (4);
(3) a company or other entity that is owned by or the
majority of stock or other ownership interest of which is held or
controlled by a company or entity described by Subdivision (2); or
(4) an individual who is domiciled in a designated
country.
Sec. 5.254. DESIGNATION OF COUNTRY AS SUBJECT TO
PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE OF OR ACQUISITION OF TITLE TO REAL
PROPERTY. (a) The governor, after consultation with the public
safety director of the Department of Public Safety, may designate a
country of which a governmental entity, company or other entity, or
citizen shall be subject to this subchapter.
(b) The governor shall consult the Homeland Security
Council established under Subchapter B, Chapter 421, Government
Code, for purposes of making a designation under this section.
Sec. 5.255. INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY
GENERAL; LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRAL. (a) The attorney general shall
establish procedures to examine a transfer of real property and
determine whether an investigation of a possible violation of this
subchapter is warranted.
(b) If the attorney general determines that an
investigation of a transfer of real property is warranted under
this section, the attorney general:
(1) shall investigate the transfer of real property
and determine whether a violation of this subchapter occurred;
(2) may bring an action to enforce this subchapter in a
district court in the county where all or part of the real property
that is the subject of the violation is located; and
(3) may refer the matter to the appropriate local,
state, or federal law enforcement agency.
Sec. 5.256. DIVESTITURE; APPOINTMENT OF RECEIVER;
DISTRIBUTION OF SALE PROCEEDS. (a) If the district court finds
that the real property subject to an action brought under Section
5.255 was purchased or otherwise acquired by an individual or
entity in violation of Section 5.253, the court shall enter an order
that:
(1) states the court's finding;
(2) divests the individual's or entity's interest in
the real property; and
(3) appoints a receiver to manage and control the real
property pending the sale or other disposition of the real
property.
(b) On appointment and qualification, a receiver appointed
under this section has the powers and duties of a receiver under
Chapter 64, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
(c) Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of real
property under an order described by Subsection (a) shall be
applied first to satisfy any existing liens on the property and then
to pay a fine assessed under Section 5.257(c). The remaining
proceeds shall be remitted to the comptroller for deposit in the
general revenue fund.
Sec. 5.257. OFFENSE; PENALTY. (a) A person commits an
offense if the person:
(1) is an individual domiciled in a designated
country; and
(2) intentionally or knowingly purchases or otherwise
acquires title to real property in this state.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a state jail felony.
(c) A company or entity that the attorney general determines
under Section 5.255(b) to have violated this subchapter shall pay
to this state a fine equal to the greater of:
(1) $250,000; or
(2) 50 percent of the market value of the real property
that is the subject of the violation.
SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the attorney general shall adopt rules for the
implementation of Subchapter H, Chapter 5, Property Code, as added
by this Act.
SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
the purchase of or other acquisition of title to real property on or
after the effective date of this Act. The purchase of or other
acquisition of title to real property before the effective date of
this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.