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HB 2628

AN ACT relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property

House Bill
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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What This Bill Does

Restricts certain foreign entities and organizations from purchasing or acquiring real property in Texas. Specifically, organizations incorporated outside the United States, with principal business locations outside the country, or owned by non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents are prohibited from buying real estate. Organizations currently holding real property interests must divest those holdings by March 1, 2026, providing a transition period for existing property owners.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 5.005, Property Code, is amended to read
Sec. 5.005.  ALIENS.  Except as provided by Subchapter H, an
[An] alien has the same real and personal property rights as a
SECTION 2.  Chapter 5, Property Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter H to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER H. PURCHASE OF OR ACQUISITION OF TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY
Sec. 5.251.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter, "governing
authority," "governing person," and "organization" have the
meanings assigned by Section 1.002, Business Organizations Code.
Sec. 5.252.  ORGANIZATION UNDER CONTROL OF INDIVIDUAL OR
ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.  (a)  For purposes of this subchapter, an
organization is under the control of an individual or another
organization if the controlling individual or organization is
(1)  direct the activities of the controlled
(2)  make or direct others to make legal commitments on
behalf of the controlled organization; or
(3)  hire and fire a principal decision maker of the
(b)  The authority of the controlling individual or
organization under Subsection (a) may derive from:
(1)  exercise of a voting ownership interest of the
controlled organization sufficient to elect a governing person or
governing authority of the controlled organization to exercise on
the controlling individual's or organization's behalf the authority
described by Subsection (a); or
(2)  a financial, legal, practical, contractual, or
other arrangement that functionally enables the controlling
individual or organization to exercise the authority described by
Sec. 5.253.  PROHIBITION ON PURCHASE OF OR ACQUISITION OF
TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY.  Notwithstanding any other law, the
following may not purchase or otherwise acquire title to real
(A)  is organized under the laws of a foreign
(B)  has its principal place of business outside
(2)  an organization that is owned by or under the
(A)  an organization described by Subdivision
(B)  an individual who is not a citizen or lawful
permanent resident of the United States; or
Sec. 5.2531.  INTEREST ACQUIRED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2025.
Notwithstanding Section 5.253, a person described by that section
may continue to hold an interest in real property acquired before
September 1, 2025, until March 1, 2026, but must divest the person's
interest in the real property before that date.  This section
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property