Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced the creation of the Texas House Select Committee on Securing Texas From Hostile Foreign Organizations.

The committee was created to “study the threat posed by hostile foreign organizations” as well as monitor any acquisitions of property or intellectual property by those organizations which would impact the state of Texas, its economy, and its citizens, according to Phelan’s announcement.

Appointed members of the new House Select Committee include State Reps. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant), who was appointed as the chairman, Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson), Cody Harris (R-Palestine), Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi), Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio), Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco), and Terry Wilson (R-Georgetown). 

Chairman-select Hefner posted a response on X, saying “I’m grateful to Speaker Dade Phelan for the opportunity to work on these important issues. My colleagues and I will work to ensure our economy and property are secure.”

During the 88th Regular Session, the Texas Senate passed SB147 which prohibited certain foreign entities and individuals from purchasing or acquiring property in Texas. The bill did not make it out of committee in the House.

A report in September 2023 claimed that the Chinese Communist Party launched "information warfare" against that bill to prevent its passage.