James Talarico, a 37‑year‑old Presbyterian seminarian running for the Texas Senate, cast a "no" vote on three 2025 bills that sought to limit the reach of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the Lone Star State. The legislation, which passed both chambers and was signed into law, would bar certain foreign governments and nationals from purchasing farmland, prohibit state investments in companies tied to the CCP, and prevent municipalities from forming new sister‑city ties with designated adversaries.
SB 17, the farmland restriction, prohibits Chinese nationals and other "foreign entities of concern" from acquiring Texas agricultural or commercial property. SB 667 bars state agencies from investing in firms that are under Chinese government control. HB 128 stops Texas cities from establishing or renewing sister‑city relationships with countries listed as adversaries, a list that includes China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
Legislative records show Talarico voted "no" on each of the three measures. In the case of the sister‑city bill, he initially recorded a "yes" vote for the final passage but later corrected the entry, explaining that he "was shown voting yes" but "intended to vote no." All three bills cleared the Texas House and Senate and were signed by Governor Greg Abbott.
The bills arrived amid heightened scrutiny of Chinese activity in Texas. Data compiled by the Texas General Land Office indicates that Chinese entities own roughly 160,000 acres of land in the state, the largest total of any foreign buyer as of 2024. The most publicized transaction involved Sun Guangxin, a former Chinese army officer who bought about 130,000 acres near Laughlin Air Force Base in San Antonio for a proposed wind‑farm project. That purchase prompted Republican lawmakers to push for a ban on Chinese land ownership, and Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a rulemaking process to enforce the restriction earlier this year.
Republican leaders have framed the legislation as a national‑security measure. They argue that foreign control of agricultural land could give the CCP leverage over food supply chains and that sister‑city agreements can serve as covert channels for influence‑peddling. Critics, however, contend that the bills are overly broad and could deter legitimate foreign investment, a concern for a state that relies on international capital for infrastructure projects.
Talarico's opposition to the measures may create a political liability as he seeks to attract Republican voters in the general election against Paxton. A 2022 poll commissioned by a Texas‑based think tank found that 82 percent of Republican respondents supported a ban on Chinese nationals buying state land. By voting against the bills, Talarico risks alienating a sizable portion of the electorate that views China as a strategic threat.
At the same time, the Democratic base in Texas has praised Talarico for his earlier support of a resolution condemning the use of the terms "Kung Flu" and "China Virus." In May 2021, he posted on X that the language was "racist against Chinese nationals" and signed Rep. Gene Wu's resolution denouncing anti‑Asian hate speech. In the same thread, he wrote, "Radicalized white men are the greatest domestic terrorist threat in our country," and added, "We must confront racism and misogyny everywhere, from the school house to the White House." The resolution linked the terminology to hate crimes such as the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, although the shooter later claimed his motive was unrelated to anti‑Asian sentiment.
The contrast between Talarico's stance on anti‑Asian hate and his vote on the CCP‑related bills highlights the nuanced calculations candidates must make in a state where partisan lines are stark. While his anti‑racism record may bolster support among progressive voters, his refusal to back the farmland ban could be leveraged by Paxton's campaign as evidence of a "soft" approach to China.
Understanding the legislative process helps explain how the bills advanced despite opposition. In Texas, a bill must pass three readings in both the House and Senate before the governor can sign it. Committee hearings often feature testimony from industry groups, security experts, and advocacy organizations. The farmland bill, for example, was reviewed by the House Committee on Land and Resource Management, where representatives from the Texas Farm Bureau warned that foreign ownership could threaten local farming communities.
Historically, Texas has passed similar measures targeting foreign influence. In 2019, the state enacted a law requiring disclosure of foreign ownership of real‑estate holdings above a certain threshold. The current suite of bills expands that framework by adding explicit bans and investment restrictions, reflecting a broader national trend of tightening rules on Chinese economic activity after the COVID‑19 pandemic and subsequent supply‑chain disruptions.
For voters in neighboring states, the Texas approach offers a case study in how state legislatures can shape foreign‑investment policy. In the United States, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) already reviews transactions that may pose national‑security risks, but state‑level bans add another layer of scrutiny. Canadian policymakers watching the Texas debate may consider whether similar measures could be applied to protect Canadian farmland, which has also attracted foreign buyers.
Looking ahead, the next steps involve implementation. The Texas Department of Agriculture will issue guidelines on how the farmland ban will be enforced, while the Comptroller's office will oversee compliance with the investment prohibition. Municipalities will need to review existing sister‑city agreements and determine whether they fall under the new restrictions.
Talarico's campaign has not responded to requests for comment on his votes. As the Senate race moves toward the November ballot, both candidates are likely to use the issue of Chinese influence to rally their respective bases, making the outcome of these bills a focal point in a contest that could shape Texas politics for years to come.