Governor Greg Abbott has signed three new bills aimed at increasing protections for Texas against foreign adversaries. The measures target countries and organizations considered hostile, such as Russia, Iran, China, North Korea, and groups like Tren de Aragua.
“It is very simple. Hostile foreign adversaries like China, Russian, Iran, and North Korea, as well as foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua, must not be allowed to own land in Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “They should not be allowed access to our critical infrastructure, and they may not be allowed to exploit our border. Stiff, criminal penalties will be inflicted on those who violate these laws.”
The signing ceremony included the presence of Senator Bryan Hughes, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Representative Cole Hefner, Representative Janie Lopez, Representative Angelia Orr, along with other members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives.
House Bill 128 prohibits Texas governmental entities from entering into sister-city agreements with foreign adversaries while encouraging such partnerships with U.S. allies.
Senate Bill 17 bans certain countries and designated transnational criminal organizations from acquiring real estate in Texas.
Senate Bill 1349 establishes a criminal offense for acts of transnational repression and requires law enforcement officers to undergo specialized training on this issue.
Photos from the bill signing event are expected to be released at a later date.
