Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate Bo French has announced that his first legislative priority would be to expand Senate Bill 17 to include Muslim-majority countries.
During the 89th Legislative Session, Texas lawmakers passed SB 17, which prohibits designated foreign entities—such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran—from owning land in the state. The law aims to “protect key land and natural resources from hostile countries and their actors named in the three most recent Annual Threat Assessment reports prepared by the Director of National Intelligence.”
However, as more land is reportedly being acquired for the development of Muslim communities aimed at expanding Islamic practices and beliefs in the state, French says he wants to expand the scope of the bill to include additional Muslim-majority countries.
“Islam poses an existential threat to Texans’ way of life. While Iran is currently included in the SB 17 prohibition, several other muslim countries are allowed to purchase land in Texas, which they use to influence the Texas Oil and Gas Industry,” French said. “As Railroad Commissioner, I look forward to working with the Texas Legislature to include all muslim-majority countries under SB17 and enforcing it as your next Railroad Commissioner.”
According to French, several Muslim-majority countries own land and are operating pipelines, refineries, and drilling operations in Texas. One of those countries includes Saudi Arabia, which controls the Port Arthur refinery in North Texas.
“I’m running for Railroad Commissioner to put Texans back in the driver’s seat of Texas energy policy,” French continued. “America has been at war with Islam since the time of our Independence, and stopping the subversive influence of Islam in Texas by banning all Muslim countries from acquiring land and interfering in Texas Oil and Gas will be my top legislative priority.”
French’s announcement comes as Texas has been dealing with Islamic developers attempting to buy rural land to create residential communities dedicated to Muslims.
Last month, a North Texas judge issued a temporary restraining order against the East Plano Islamic Center’s proposed community, which would span more than 400 acres in Josephine, Texas.
Additionally, plans for another proposed muslim community were cancelled after Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation and local residents raised concerns. The development, which was planned for Kaufman County, was expected to house at least 20,000 foreign nationals.
French is set to face incumbent James Wright in a primary runoff on May 26, 2026.
If French wins the runoff, he would face Democrat candidate Jon Rosenthal in the general election on November 3, 2026.