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The Blast: Senate backs limits on farmland sales to China [1]

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Date: 2023-05 

SENATE OKS WATERED-DOWN LAND SALES BILL

After some major surgery, Sen. Lois Kolkhorst’s bill restricting sales of Texas land to certain countries — including China — is moving forward in the Senate.



The Senate voted 18-12 today to give their preliminary OK to Senate Bill 147, a measure designed to limit the influence of the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign threats by restricting access to Texas land. Senators could pass the bill as soon as tomorrow.



Kolkhorst, a Brenham Republican, and other supporters say the legislation will protect the state’s natural resources from foreign control, while critics say it will infringe on the rights of those who come to America and Texas to seek a better life.



Changes to the bill have been in the works for weeks. Initially, the bill sought to ban outright land sales to dual citizens and businesses associated with China, North Korea, Iran and Russia. But after months of outcry from Asian American groups and their allies, Kolkhorst introduced a softened approach in early March as the Senate State Affairs Committee considered the measure.



Despite the changes, the committee didn’t vote on the bill for more than a month. After that, the bill remained on the Senate intent calendar for an entire week before the chamber finally considered it today.



The major amendment today restricted the scope of the bill to purchases related to agricultural land, timberland, minerals, and oil and gas rights. Another change addresses concerns raised by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, and limits the attorney general’s ability to investigate violations of the bill from “reason to believe” to “a reasonable suspicion.”



“This ensures that we strengthen our food security, our energy security and our national security,” Kolkhorst said after roughly two hours of debate. “... You can come and buy your company. You can have your restaurant.”



Kolkhorst acknowledged she was holding meetings on the bill as late as last night.



Read more from Robert Downen at texastribune.org.



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