HB243 - Relating to the authority of the attorney general to acquire by eminent domain certain real property owned by aliens or foreign entities.

  89R3250 DRS-D     By: Spiller H.B. No. 243       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the authority of the attorney general to acquire by   eminent domain certain real property owned by aliens or foreign   entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 4, Property Code, is amended by adding   Chapter 21A to read as follows:   CHAPTER 21A.   ACQUISITION BY EMINENT DOMAIN OF CERTAIN   FOREIGN-OWNED REAL PROPERTY           Sec. 21A.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                 (1)     "Alien" means a citizen of a country other than the   United States.                 (2)     "Critical infrastructure" means infrastructure in   one of the following categories:                       (A)  chemical;                       (B)  commercial facilities;                       (C)  communications;                       (D)  critical manufacturing;                       (E)  dams;                       (F)  defense industrial bases;                       (G)  emergency services;                       (H)  energy;                       (I)  financial services;                       (J)  food and agriculture;                       (K)  government facilities;                       (L)  health care and public health;                       (M)  information technology;                       (N)  nuclear reactors, materials, and waste;                       (O)  transportation systems; or                       (P)  water and wastewater systems.                 (3)     "Foreign" means created or organized in a country   other than the United States or under the law of a country other   than the United States.           Sec.   21A.002.     APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to real   property in this state owned by an alien, foreign business, or   foreign government, or an agent, trustee, or fiduciary of an alien,   foreign business, or foreign government.           Sec.   21A.003.     EMINENT DOMAIN; COURT PROCEEDING.   (a)   The   attorney general may bring an action to obtain a court order under   Subsection (c) authorizing the attorney general to initiate an   eminent domain proceeding to acquire real property owned by an   alien or foreign entity as described by Section 21A.002 if the   attorney general has reason to believe and shows the real property   is being used in a manner that:                 (1)  violates state or federal law; or                 (2)     creates a risk to the state's critical   infrastructure.           (b)     An action under this section may be brought in a   district court in the county where all or part of the real property   that is the subject of the action is located.           (c)     If the district court finds the attorney general has   made the showing required by Subsection (a), the court shall enter   an order stating that finding.           (d)     On entry of the district court's order under Subsection   (c), the attorney general may initiate eminent domain proceedings   to acquire the real property.           (e)     Chapter 21 governs the procedure for an eminent domain   proceeding initiated in accordance with this chapter. Chapter 2206,   Government Code, and Subchapter E, Chapter 21, of this code do not   apply to an eminent domain proceeding initiated in accordance with   this chapter.           Sec.   21A.004.     STATE MANAGEMENT OF ACQUIRED REAL PROPERTY.     Real property acquired by eminent domain under Section 21A.003   shall be owned by this state and managed by the General Land Office.          SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the attorney general shall adopt rules for the   implementation of Chapter 21A, Property Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.