Texas Ban on Chinese Land Purchases Faces Potential Class Action

A Texas law limiting ownership in real property by citizens of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea faces a potential class action alleging multiple violations of federal law.

SB 17 purports to strengthen national security by cracking down on acquisitions from hostile foreign adversaries but instead discriminates based on race, ethnicity, and national origin, three Chinese citizens who live in Texas alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

“The State of Texas has failed to identify any nexus between real estate ownership by Chinese citizens in general and purported harm to national security,” the complaint filed in the US District Court ...