The measure, endorsed by Gov. Greg Abbott, originally would have banned citizens of China, Iran, Russia or North Korea from buying land in Texas.
, said the legislation is aimed at stemming foreign influence in Texas agriculture and other sectors. It still prohibits the purchase or acquisition of property by a “governmental entity” of the four countries, by a company headquartered in the four countries, and by a company “directly or indirectly controlled” by a government of the four countries.
“The goal of this bill is to legislate common sense safeguards against Russian, North Korean, Chinese, and Iranian authoritarian regimes,” Kolkhorst said in a statement this week. “It will not apply to those fleeing the tyranny of those governments who seek freedom in Texas. The committee substitute makes important clarifications, so the law targets agents of these adversarial regimes while not harming innocent Texans in pursuit of the American dream.
The revisions were criticized heavily at a Senate committee hearing Thursday that included testimony by more than 100 people, including Asian American business owners, immigrants and advocacy groups. They said the legislation, even as revised, would codify anti-Asian discrimination into Texas law and disenfranchise one of the fastest-growing communities in the state.
Yi and others recalled the long history of anti-Asian legislation in the United States, including Japanese internment during World War II and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Opponents also said the legislation would make the United States look more like the authoritarian regimes of the four countries — and increase anti-Asian hate crimes and rhetoric that have skyrocketed since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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