Latest news with #ColeHefner
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Anti-Red Flag Act' that would limit when guns can be taken from people advances in Texas House
The Texas House late Tuesday evening preliminarily passed a Senate bill that would prohibit governmental authorities from enforcing extreme risk protection orders, commonly known as red flag laws, unless the Legislature approved them. Senate Bill 1362 would prevent judges and other local officials from seizing firearms in cases where criminal charges have not been filed or where a protective order is not in place under the Texas Family Code, said Republican Rep. Cole Hefner of Mt. Pleasant. 'I would be concerned with a rogue city judge, a county judge, a district judge,' Hefne, the House sponsor of the bill, said during a debate with Austin Democrat Erin Zwiener. 'This is to make it clear that we're not going to violate anyone's right to bear arms.' House members, in an 86-60 vote, approved the bill from Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, hours before the deadline to advance Senate bills in the lower chamber. Red flag laws, which have existed in various U.S. states since 1999, typically allow family members or police to formally ask a judge to temporarily seize firearms from an individual who poses a risk to themselves or others. Hefner said the legislation, which Hughes dubbed the 'Anti Red-Flag Act,' was necessary to protect Texans from having their guns taken without due process. Republican Rep. Wes Virdell, a gun rights advocate before he was elected last year, argued in favor of the bill. He cited an example of a Maryland man whom he said had his guns seized illegally by local law enforcement. Democrats were near-unanimous in opposing the legislation. Rep. Ana-Mariía Rodriíguez Ramos, D-Richardson, said red flag laws are broadly popular with liberals, moderates and conservatives. 'This bill puts lives at risk by stripping communities of common-sense tools available to stop violence before it happens,' she said. 'And not only does it eliminate an option for a policy that we don't even have in place in Texas, it criminalizes the people who try to use this approach.' Though Republicans succeeded in passing SB 1362, debate on the bill ate up costly time ahead of the midnight deadline to pass Senate bills. Republicans defeated six proposed Democratic amendments to the bill, but the debate burned almost 90 minutes that could have been spent on other bills, many of them carried by conservative members. The bill needs one more vote in the House before it goes back to the Senate. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas pushes back against foreign land grab with 'strongest bill in the nation' against China, Iran, Russia
Texas lawmakers are charging ahead with what they call the nation's strongest legislative effort yet to block hostile foreign powers from purchasing land in the Lone Star State. Championed by Republican state Rep. Cole Hefner and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Senate Bill 17 (SB17) is designed to stop governments and entities tied to countries like China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from gaining a foothold on Texas soil. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Hefner described SB17 as "model legislation" aimed at shutting down land purchases that pose a national security threat. "This bill is about actions and affiliations, not race, not nationality," Hefner said. "If you're acting on behalf of a hostile foreign adversary, we're going to take that land back." Texas Law Gets Tough On Public, Private Drone Use The bill is in direct response to real-world events. Read On The Fox News App Hefner cited the 2021 case of a retired Chinese general acquiring over 140,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base. "We've [also] seen the attempt of foreign actors or hostile foreign adversaries to buy land close to food processing plants," Hefner said. "And it's just something that we have found the more we dig into it, the more we find that there's a lot of things we don't know and a lot of vulnerabilities that are out there." The bill prohibits entities and individuals affiliated with governments designated as national security threats, based on the U.S. Director of National Intelligence's annual assessments, from purchasing real estate if those purchases pose risks to public health or safety. The law empowers the state's attorney general to investigate, block and even reverse such land deals through court-ordered receivership. Texas Lawmakers Considering Bill To Ban Gender Changes On Birth Certificates Under SB17, "real property" includes agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential land as well as mines, minerals, and timber. The law includes key exemptions for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and property intended as a personal homestead. "The strong points of our bill is that it can apply to anyone if we can prove they're acting as an agent," said Hefner. "So even if they're from a friendly country, but they're actually on behalf of a foreign adversary, then they will be subject to the bill." The bill gives the attorney general investigative powers, and authority to appoint receivers to manage or sell properties acquired in violation of the law. Hefner pushed back hard on critics who claim the bill is xenophobic. "This has nothing to do with skin color or ethnicity," he said. "It's about protecting Texans and Americans from foreign espionage and influence." He also stressed that SB17 should not be seen as a partisan move. "It shouldn't be a partisan issue. This is about national security. This is about keeping our citizens safe," said Hefner. "It's not about Republican or Democrat, it's not liberal or conservative. It is just taking care of our people. "And I believe that's the, you know, the number one responsibility of the government is to make sure that people can live free and safe in their state." SB17 is set to take effect Sept. 1. Hefner said he hopes the legislation sparks a nationwide effort. "We need to wake up," he said. "This is about securing the homeland, not playing politics."Fox News Digital's Nick Butler contributed to this article source: Texas pushes back against foreign land grab with 'strongest bill in the nation' against China, Iran, Russia
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Texas pushes back against foreign land grab with 'strongest bill in the nation' against China, Iran, Russia
Texas lawmakers are charging ahead with what they call the nation's strongest legislative effort yet to block hostile foreign powers from purchasing land in the Lone Star State. Championed by Republican state Rep. Cole Hefner and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, Senate Bill 17 (SB17) is designed to stop governments and entities tied to countries like China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from gaining a foothold on Texas soil. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Hefner described SB17 as "model legislation" aimed at shutting down land purchases that pose a national security threat. "This bill is about actions and affiliations, not race, not nationality," Hefner said. "If you're acting on behalf of a hostile foreign adversary, we're going to take that land back." The bill is in direct response to real-world events. Hefner cited the 2021 case of a retired Chinese general acquiring over 140,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base. "We've [also] seen the attempt of foreign actors or hostile foreign adversaries to buy land close to food processing plants," Hefner said. "And it's just something that we have found the more we dig into it, the more we find that there's a lot of things we don't know and a lot of vulnerabilities that are out there." The bill prohibits entities and individuals affiliated with governments designated as national security threats, based on the U.S. Director of National Intelligence's annual assessments, from purchasing real estate if those purchases pose risks to public health or safety. The law empowers the state's attorney general to investigate, block and even reverse such land deals through court-ordered receivership. Under SB17, "real property" includes agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential land as well as mines, minerals, and timber. The law includes key exemptions for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and property intended as a personal homestead. "The strong points of our bill is that it can apply to anyone if we can prove they're acting as an agent," said Hefner. "So even if they're from a friendly country, but they're actually on behalf of a foreign adversary, then they will be subject to the bill." The bill gives the attorney general investigative powers, and authority to appoint receivers to manage or sell properties acquired in violation of the law. Hefner pushed back hard on critics who claim the bill is xenophobic. "This has nothing to do with skin color or ethnicity," he said. "It's about protecting Texans and Americans from foreign espionage and influence." He also stressed that SB17 should not be seen as a partisan move. "It shouldn't be a partisan issue. This is about national security. This is about keeping our citizens safe," said Hefner. "It's not about Republican or Democrat, it's not liberal or conservative. It is just taking care of our people. "And I believe that's the, you know, the number one responsibility of the government is to make sure that people can live free and safe in their state." SB17 is set to take effect Sept. 1. Hefner said he hopes the legislation sparks a nationwide effort.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Republican-backed bill to limit Chinese property ownership gains ground in Texas
A Republican bill to restrict property ownership in Texas by citizens of China passed the state's House of Representatives on Friday, gaining new momentum after failing to become law two years ago. Advertisement The Texas House voted to advance the bill, which currently also targets nationals from Iran North Korea and Russia – countries identified by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as national security threats – after adding a provision on Thursday to give the state's governor broad powers to include more countries. It now goes back to the Senate, which approved an earlier version in March. If passed by both chambers before the end of the legislative session in June, it would go to the state's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, who has signalled he would sign it into law. Proponents of the bill, known as SB17, say it is crucial to protecting Texans from influence by foreign adversaries. 'This is the strongest legislation in the nation to protect our land from hostile foreign intent, keeping Texas property in the hands of those who respect our freedoms and share our values,' Republican state representative Cole Hefner, one of the bill's primary House sponsors, said in a post on social media on Thursday. Critics, including many Democratic representatives and Asian-American groups, have denounced the bill as xenophobic and discriminatory.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House advances Senate Bill 17 to bar certain immigrants from owning land in state
Legislation aimed at barring people and agents of countries deemed hostile to U.S. interests from owning land in Texas leaped closer to becoming law after House Republicans late Thursday and again on Friday beat back several attempts by Democrats to derail or soften the proposal. The House sponsor of Senate Bill 17, Mount Pleasant Republican Rep. Cole Hefner, said the legislation would make Texas and the nation safer because "adversarial nations," as identified by the U.S. national intelligence director — China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — could not become Texas landowners. "Countries on this list have demonstrated their desire to harm this country and present a significant national security risk," Hefner said Thursday during the hourslong debate in the lower chamber. Under an amendment added to the bill, the governor would have the power to add or remove countries from the list of those sanctioned by the measure. Hefner and his allies in the House rebuffed assertions from several Democratic members that the measure would unfairly prevent immigrants from those nations from putting down roots in the country that has given them refuge from repression. "Let's be clear: These people are not enemies of the state. They came to Texas seeking the freedom and liberty this bill supposedly tries to protect. ... I know because I was one of them," said Rep. Hubert Vo, D-Houston, who told his colleagues of how his family escaped a Communist regime in Vietnam as his Democratic colleagues stood behind him in support. "Texas should proudly welcome those who play by the rules, not brand them as traitors." The bill, which passed the House with several modifications on a 85-60 vote, now returns to the Senate, which can accept those changes or ask for a conference committee to iron out the differences. Once both chambers agree on a final product, SB 17 would be sent to Gov. Greg Abbott to be signed into law. The bill would grant the attorney general jurisdiction to investigate violations of the land law, and courts could order the divestiture of property acquired by restricted individuals or organizations. Violators could be liable for a fine of $250,000 or more. Before a vote on final passage Friday, Hefner falsely asserted that current visa holders would be exempt from the bill's restrictions on landownership, saying "If you're lawfully present at the time of the purchase of this property, then you're fine." Green card holders will be able to buy homes in Texas, but temporary visa holders are not explicitly exempt from the bill's restrictions. Furthermore, the bill as amended, only allows for leases up to one year at a time. The Senate's version would have allowed 99-year leases — "a loophole you could drive a Mack truck through," Lewisville Republican Rep. Mitch Little said. The Senate's version of the bill carved out an exception for an individual's primary residence, but the House previously stripped that provision in a committee substitute. The House further tweaked the bill with a handful of floor amendments. SB 17 garnered bipartisan support in the upper chamber and passed March 19 by a 24-7 vote. A similar House companion bill was heard in an April meeting of the lower chamber's Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee but has not received a vote. SB 17 is the latest push in a yearslong campaign to restrict foreign land ownership, with a similar proposal dying in the House during the 2023 legislative session. Proponents of the restrictions say the issue is a matter of national security, often citing concerns that individuals or businesses loyal to foreign governments could buy up large swaths of land in the U.S., posing a risk to agriculture and critical infrastructure. Around half of U.S. states have passed laws restricting foreign investment in domestic land, with 12 codifying restrictions in 2024, according to the National Agricultural Law Center. Arkansas became the first state to enforce such a law in 2023. About 5.3 million acres, or 3.41% of private agricultural land in Texas is foreign-owned, according to a Texas Farm Bureau report that cites the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Of that, a majority is owned by ally nations like Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. China makes up 3.6% of Texas' foreign-owned land. House and Senate hearings on land ownership legislation have drawn dozens of witnesses, many opposed to the bills, who testified for hours on SB 17 and its House companion bill. Democratic lawmakers who spoke ahead of the House committee hearing argued that the proposal is discriminatory and said it mirrors the prologue to the World War II-era incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese descent in America. Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, repeated those concerns during Thursday's debate. "Why my community is so angry is that this exact thing has been done before — done for the same reasons, using the same rhetoric, passing the same laws, and against the exact same communities," said Wu, who is Asian-American. "The fear isn't just about this legislation. For me, the fear is about the community as a whole." But Republican House members, including Garland Rep. Angie Chen Button, who immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, maintained that the bill is not discriminatory but a matter of protecting Texas. "I am supporting this bill because it is to protect our country's freedom, liberty, national security," Button said. "This is not my mother land, but this is my chosen land, and I'm here to protect the liberty and freedom of my chosen land." Staff writers John C. Moritz and Bayliss Wagner contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas House passes bill barring certain immigrants from owning land
