Texas lawmakers are paying forward what they still call the country's strongest legislative effort to block hostile foreign forces from purchasing hostile Star State land.
The defense of Republican Rep. Cole Hefner and state Sen. Royce Kolhorst, Sen. Sen. 17 (SB17) is designed to stop governments and entities tied to countries such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Hefner described SB17 as a “model law” aimed at closing land purchases that pose a national security threat.
“The bill is about behaviour and affiliation, not race, not nationality,” Hefner said. “If you are acting on behalf of an adversary foreign enemy, we are going to reclaim the land.”
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Center Texas Rep. Cole Hefner speaks to fellow representatives of the State Capitol in Austin. (Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images)
This bill directly addresses actual events.
Hefner cited the 2021 incident of a retired Chinese general general who won more than 140,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base.
“We've seen attempts by foreign actors and hostile foreign enemies to buy land near food processing plants,” Hefner said. “And that's what we find that the more we dig into it, the more we find there are so many things we don't know and the many vulnerabilities there that are out there.”
The bill bans governments and individuals affiliated with governments designated as national security threats, based on the director of the U.S. annual assessment of national intelligence threats.
The law allows the state attorney general to investigate, block, or even reverse such land transactions through the recipients of court orders.
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Pumpjacks line up in the field in Ruling, Texas. (Houston Chronicle via Elizabeth Conley/Getty Images)
Under SB17, “real estate” includes agriculture, commercial, industrial, residential, mines, minerals and wood. The law includes significant exemptions for property intended as a US citizen, legitimate permanent resident, and individual homestead.
“The advantage of our bill is that it can be applied to anyone as long as they can prove they are acting as agents,” Hefner said. “So, even if they come from a friendly country, they are actually on behalf of foreign enemies, but are subject to the bill.”
The bill gives the Attorney General the authority to appoint recipients to manage or sell real estate acquired in violation of the law.
Hefner pushed hard back to critics who argued that the bill was xenophobic. “This has nothing to do with skin color or ethnicity,” he said. “It's about protecting Texans and Americans from foreign spies and influence.”
Texas State Capitol in Austin. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
He also emphasized that SB17 should not be seen as a partisan move. “It shouldn't be a partisan issue. It's about national security. It's about keeping our citizens safe,” Hefner said. “It's not about Republicans or Democrats, it's not free or conservative, it's just taking care of our people.
“And I believe that it is the government's number one responsibility to ensure that people can live freely and safely in their states.”
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SB17 is set to take effect on September 1st. Hefner said he hopes the law will spark national effort.
“I need to wake up,” he said. “This is about securing a homeland, not doing politics.”
Nick Butler of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
