San Francisco committee condemns Texas bill SB147, sends amended resolution to full board

San Francisco’s Land Use and Transportation Committee on March 20 approved and forwarded a resolution condemning Texas Senate Bill 147 and related measures that supervisors said would discriminate against immigrants.

Supervisor Connie Chan introduced the resolution, saying SB147 and related Texas proposals would revive “alien land” restrictions that historically barred Asian immigrants from property ownership. Chan said the bills “are a dangerous and racist attempt to reinstate alien land laws” and announced amendments to the local resolution to broaden the condemnation to companion Texas measures (SB552 and SB711).

The committee heard a string of speakers supporting the resolution, including Representative Jean Wu (speaking remotely), Nick Gee of Chinese for Affirmative Action and Stop AAPI Hate, Alan Lowe of Perkins Coie (pro bono counsel to advocacy groups), and retired Superior Court Judge Julie Tang. Alan Lowe urged supervisors not to be “bystanders” and called on the city to speak out. Nick Gee said the bills “would threaten the rights of thousands of families” and likened the proposals to historical exclusionary laws that were later overturned by courts.

Vice Chair Dean Preston and Board President Aaron Peskin both spoke in favor of the resolution, invoking the long history of discriminatory alien land laws in California and other states. After public comment the committee approved an amendment and voted unanimously to send the amended resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.

Next steps: The resolution will be scheduled for the full Board agenda for April 3 unless otherwise noted.