Legislation aimed at barring people and agents of countries deemed hostile to U.S. interests from owning land in Texas leaped closer to becoming law.

A bill in the Texas House would prevent people from China and other countries from buying property in the state. Additions by representatives would also give the governor the ability to add other countries to the ban without legislative approval.

The Texas House gave initial approval to a bill Thursday that would ban citizens of China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from owning properties in Texas, moving the state one step closer to creating barriers for property ownership to people from countries deemed hostile.