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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the ownership of agricultural land by nonresident |
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aliens or foreign entities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 1, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 3 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 3. OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND |
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Sec. 3.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Agricultural land" means land that qualifies for |
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tax appraisal under Subchapter C or D, Chapter 23, Tax Code. |
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(2) "Foreign" means created or organized in a country |
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other than the United States or under the law of a country other |
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than the United States. |
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(3) "Nonresident alien" means a citizen of a country |
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other than the United States who is not a resident of this state. |
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Sec. 3.002. NONRESIDENT ALIEN OR FOREIGN ACQUISITION OF |
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AGRICULTURAL LAND PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other law, a |
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nonresident alien, foreign business, or foreign government, or an |
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agent, trustee, or fiduciary of a nonresident alien, foreign |
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business, or foreign government, may not purchase or otherwise |
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acquire title to agricultural land in this state. |
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Sec. 3.003. ANNUAL REPORT OF NONRESIDENT ALIEN OR FOREIGN |
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OWNERSHIP OF AGRICULTURAL LAND. (a) Not later than January 1 of |
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each year, the department shall submit to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a report that |
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identifies all agricultural land in this state owned by a |
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nonresident alien, foreign business, or foreign government, or an |
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agent, trustee, or fiduciary of a nonresident alien, foreign |
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business, or foreign government. |
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(b) The department shall post and maintain on the |
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department's Internet website the most recent report required by |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 5.005, Property Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 5.005. ALIENS. Except as provided by Chapter 3, |
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Agriculture Code, an [An] alien has the same real and personal |
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property rights as a United States citizen. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |