The House Committee on Securing Texas from Hostile Foreign Organizations, Select

88th Legislature

October 16, 2024

10:00 a.m.

E2.010

Pursuant to a notice posted on October 4, 2024, the House Committee on Securing Texas from Hostile Foreign Organizations, Select met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Hefner, at 10:03 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Hefner; Button; Hunter; Lopez, Ray; and Martinez.

A quorum was present.

Representative Patterson, Jared was also in attendance.

The chair made opening remarks.

The committee heard testimony on the following items:

Study the threat posed by hostile foreign organizations and related entities on the Texas economy, security, and values.

Evaluate the ways in which hostile foreign organizations acquire property, including real property, in Texas as well as the attendant risks. Recommend policy changes to mitigate the risks posed by ownership of Texas assets by hostile foreign organizations.

Examine rates of intellectual property (IP) theft in the state and identify the industries most impacted. Make recommendations to better secure the IP of government and business operating in the state and ensure Texas remains competitive in the face of economic aggression by hostile foreign organizations.

Representative Harris, Cody now present.

Testimony taken/registration recorded. (See attached witness list.)

At 11:15 a.m., on the motion of the chair and without objection, the meeting was adjourned subject to the call of the chair.

________________________________________________

Rep. Hefner, Chair

________________________________________________

Harrison Salter, Clerk