Texas Scorecard by Brandon Waltens 8/13/2024
The organization received a flood of correspondence from members concerned that it was obstructing legislation aimed at protecting Texas farmland from foreign threats.In a significant shift from its previous position, the Texas Farm Bureau will now not oppose—and may even support—the state legislature’s proposed ban on land sales to hostile foreign nationals, such as China.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Chinese firms and investors have acquired 383,935 acres of U.S. land. Notably, in 2015, a former member of the Chinese communist army purchased 130,000 acres in South Texas near Laughlin Air Force Base.
Last year, the Texas Senate passed legislation to ban China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from purchasing Texas land, but the bill was ultimately killed in the Texas House. With more than 95 percent of Republican voters advocating for the ban, the issue has become a priority for the Republican Party of Texas. Following criticism during the recent primary elections, Texas House Republicans appear more determined to pass a version of the Senate’s legislation in 2025.
In response, current House Speaker Dade Phelan established a special committee, “Securing Texas from Hostile Foreign Organizations.” During the committee’s only hearing last month, a Texas Farm Bureau representative expressed concerns that such a ban could infringe on the rights of property sellers.
“As an American and Texan, I want our country and state to be secure from any threat—foreign or domestic. But, as an American and landowner, I also value my private property rights, which includes the right to make my own decision on selling or leasing my land. Any law relating to the foreign ownership of agricultural land should respect our private property rights,” Farm Bureau representative Mickey Edwards stated during the hearing.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/under-pressure-texas-farm-bureau-says-they-wont-oppose-ban-on-land-sales-to-china/
