Since 2023 Texas REALTORS® has been working alongside legislators and our partner organizations in real estate advocacy on proposed laws that sought to ban some buyers and tenants from certain foreign countries from purchasing, leasing, or otherwise acquiring interest in real property in Texas. Texas REALTORS®’s efforts centered on ensuring real estate professionals and private property owners would not be held responsible for enforcing any prohibitions on who could buy or lease land, and to ensure that state and federal fair housing laws would be upheld. The Texas Legislature ultimately passed Senate Bill 17 in 2025 to implement prohibitions on certain buyers and tenants of real property, under the umbrella of state and national security interests. SB 17’s minimal impact on REALTORS® and homestead buyers was the result of those years of collaboration and negotiation between Texas REALTORS®, other real estate organizations, and legislative leaders.
A significant provision of SB 17 gave the Texas Attorney General the authority to enforce the new law, including the development of rules to do so. On March 27, 2026, the Texas Attorney General published a slate of proposed rules on the legislation.
Access the Texas Register and proposed rules here.
On Friday, April 24, 2026, Texas REALTORS® submitted comments in response to the proposed rules, cosigned by our real estate coalition partners. These comments reflect our concerns that the proposed rules run contrary to the legislative intent to keep real estate professionals out of the enforcement process, and point out the many issues related to due process, fair housing, and more. Texas REALTORS® will continue to defend our members and their clients from undue regulation.
Please contact lobby@texasrealtors.com for more information.