A new Texas law banning property purchases by people and entities tied to certain countries will take effect at the beginning of September, even as a legal fight over the measure heads to appeal.

Senate Bill 17 will prohibit people, companies and government-linked entities connected to China, Iran, North Korea and Russia from acquiring most types of real estate in Texas, including farmland, homes and commercial property.

Supporters say the measure is a safeguard against national security threats repeatedly highlighted in the federal government’s annual threat assessment . Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, who authored the law, called it “the strongest protection national security bill of any state passed” during a press conference in May.

“There are people that are agents

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