Legislation in Texas that would ban citizens and entities from China and three other countries from buying property in the state has been softened in response to opposition from critics and some state Democrats.
Senate Bill 147 (pdf), authored by Republican state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, would ban citizens, companies, and government entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia from buying “real property” in Texas. The bill, which was first introduced in November, was supported by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).
On March 2, Kolkhorst unveiled a substitute version (pdf) of her original measure, and detailed how certain individuals would be excluded from the ban during a Senate committee hearing….