SB 17 Texas Senate · 89th Legislature (2025)

Relating to the purchase or acquisition of an interest in real property by certain aliens or foreign entities; creating a criminal offense; providing a civil penalty.

SB 17 restricts certain foreign governments and entities from purchasing or acquiring title to specific types of real property in Texas if such ownership poses a risk to public health, safety, or welfare. It prohibits purchases of agricultural land, commercial, industrial, residential property, mines, minerals, or timber by organizations or governments from "designated countries" (identified by U.S. intelligence as national security risks). Exceptions include U.S. citizens/permanent residents, entities owned by them, homestead properties, and leaseholds under 100 years. The law creates a new Property Code Subchapter H (Sections 5.251-5.254) to implement these restrictions.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 8 edits · Jun 20, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an 'Engrossed' draft to an 'Enrolled' final version, with significant substantive changes to the Property Code. The most important changes involve expanding the definition of prohibited entities, adding new definitions for 'Company' and 'Transnational criminal organization', and modifying the Attorney General's enforcement powers to include civil investigative demands. The bill also adds a new criminal penalty for violations and establishes a civil penalty structure.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include new entity types and individuals under the prohibition, with additional definitions and enforcement mechanisms added to the Property Code.
DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'Company' to include various business structures like LLCs, partnerships, and corporations.

Added new definition for 'Transnational criminal organization' to include groups operating internationally with leadership.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the list of prohibited individuals and entities to include additional categories related to designated countries and ruling political parties.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new enforcement provisions allowing the Attorney General to issue civil investigative demands for depositions, interrogatories, and testimony.

Added new criminal penalty provision making violations a state jail felony.

Added new civil penalty provision allowing the state to impose penalties of $250,000 or 50% of market value.

TIMELINE

Added effective date of September 1, 2025, and included certification of legislative passage dates.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for Attorney General to adopt implementation rules within a reasonable timeframe after the effective date.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 19, 2025 · House May 8, 2025

How they voted

237
Passed
Total votes 30
Mar 19, 2025
D Democratic10
3 Yea 7 Nay
70% Nay
R Republican20
20 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
94
Key actions
27
Committee
20
Amendments
8
Jun 20, 2025
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Jun 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Signed in the House
lower
May 31, 2025
Upper · Passed
Signed in the Senate
upper
May 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate adopts conference committee report
upper
May 29, 2025
Lower · Passed
House adopts conference committee report
lower
May 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House grants request for conference committee
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Senate requests conference committee-reported
lower
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate requests conference committee
upper
May 14, 2025
Introduced
House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
upper
May 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
House passage as amended reported
upper
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 9, 2025
Amended
Amendment fails of adoption
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment adopted as amended
lower
May 8, 2025
Amended
Amendment amended
lower
May 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amended
lower
May 8, 2025
Introduced
Amendment(s) offered
lower
May 8, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (89-54-2)
house
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
May 2, 2025
Committee
Recommitted to committee
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Committee
Referred to Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Introduced
Received from the Senate
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report printed and distributed
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably as substituted
upper
Mar 13, 2025
Upper · Passed
Vote taken in committee
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Left pending in committee
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Testimony taken in committee
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs
upper
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
upper
19 primary · 68 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Adam Hinojosa
Adam Hinojosa
RRepublican
TX
27
P
Photo of Bob Hall
Bob Hall
RRepublican
TX
2
P
Photo of Brandon Creighton
Brandon Creighton
RRepublican
TX
4
P
Photo of Brent Hagenbuch
Brent Hagenbuch
RRepublican
TX
30
P
Photo of Brian Birdwell
Brian Birdwell
RRepublican
TX
22
P
Photo of Charles Schwertner
Charles Schwertner
RRepublican
TX
5
P
Photo of Chuy Hinojosa
Chuy Hinojosa
DDemocratic
TX
20
P
Photo of Cole Hefner
Cole Hefner
RRepublican
TX
5
P
Photo of David Spiller
David Spiller
RRepublican
TX
68
P
Photo of Donna Campbell
Donna Campbell
RRepublican
TX
25
P
Photo of Jared Patterson
Jared Patterson
RRepublican
TX
106
P
Photo of Joan Huffman
Joan Huffman
RRepublican
TX
17
P
Photo of John McQueeney
John McQueeney
RRepublican
TX
97
P
Photo of Kevin Sparks
Kevin Sparks
RRepublican
TX
31
P
Photo of Lois Kolkhorst
Lois Kolkhorst
RRepublican
TX
18
P
Photo of Mayes Middleton
Mayes Middleton
RRepublican
TX
11
P
Photo of Paul Bettencourt
Paul Bettencourt
RRepublican
TX
7
P
Photo of Tan Parker
Tan Parker
RRepublican
TX
12
P
Photo of Will Metcalf
Will Metcalf
RRepublican
TX
16
Co
Photo of A.J. Louderback
A.J. Louderback
RRepublican
TX
30
Co
Photo of Alan Schoolcraft
Alan Schoolcraft
RRepublican
TX
44
Co
Photo of Andy Hopper
Andy Hopper
RRepublican
TX
64
Co
Photo of Angela Paxton
Angela Paxton
RRepublican
TX
8
Co
Photo of Angelia Orr
Angelia Orr
RRepublican
TX
13
Co
Photo of Ben Bumgarner
Ben Bumgarner
RRepublican
TX
63
Co
Photo of Brad Buckley
Brad Buckley
RRepublican
TX
54
Co
Photo of Briscoe Cain
Briscoe Cain
RRepublican
TX
128
Co
Photo of Brooks Landgraf
Brooks Landgraf
RRepublican
TX
81
Co
Photo of Bryan Hughes
Bryan Hughes
RRepublican
TX
1