Joint Statement in Opposition to Florida SB 264 and HB 1355

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2023

Joint Statement in Opposition to Florida SB 264 and HB 1355

WASHINGTON - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay (APABA-TB), the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SF), the Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA), Jacksonville Asian American Bar Association (JAABA), and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) join together to strongly oppose the provisions of Florida Senate Bill 264 and HB 1355 that broadly prohibit certain individuals and entities from purchasing real estate in Florida on the basis of national origin.  
 
We recognize that there are legitimate national security concerns underlying the introduction of this legislation, including the safeguarding of defense and critical infrastructure from potentially malign foreign influence.  SB 264 and HB 1355 as written however, are both overly broad and vague, prohibiting the acquisition of real estate, not only by state-owned entities or communist party officials, but by any Chinese resident who is not a US Citizen or Green Card holder, by any Chinese corporations or partnerships, even those without political affiliation, and in fact, by “any member of the People's Republic of China” which could be read to mean anyone holding Chinese citizenship, even if they are also U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States.  
 
APABA-TB, APABA-SF, GOAABA, JAABA, and NAPABA also remain concerned over how such laws, if passed, are to be enforced and whether Asian Americans and others with heritage linked to, or perceived to be linked to, the countries of concern as listed in the bills, would face unwarranted and discriminatory scrutiny in real estate transactions.  
 
This ban targets Asian and other immigrants, including those from China, and prevents them from not only realizing the American dream of home ownership, but of contributing to the Floridian and American economies through investment in our communities.  This legislation, and others like it from across the country harken to the discriminatory legacy of anti-Asian Alien Land Laws, which aimed to drive Asian immigrants from this country by stripping them of their ability to buy homes and start businesses in the United States. 
 
Our associations will continue to advocate on behalf of Asian American and other communities unfairly or inadvertently targeted by such legislation, including by building coalitions and identifying ways to engage with the legislature. We call on Florida lawmakers to carefully consider how such laws could have enormous unintended and pernicious consequences for the economy and for thousands of Florida’s Asian Americans and other community members who are simply pursuing economic prosperity.  

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), represents the interests of over 60,000 Asian Pacific American (APA) legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local APA bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting APA communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of all backgrounds in the legal profession.

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay (APABA-TB) is a non-profit, voluntary bar association founded on December 11, 2006 to represent the interests of Asian American attorneys, judges, law professors, law students and Asian American community in the Greater Tampa area. APABA-TB is an affiliate of NAPABA. 
 
The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SF) formed on April 19, 2004, is a non-profit, voluntary bar organization of attorneys in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties who support APABA-SF’s objectives and are dedicated to ensuring that minority communities are effectively represented in South Florida. APABA-SF is an affiliate of NAPABA.
 
The Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA) is a voluntary organization that was incorporated on October 19, 2009 to represent the interests of Asian American attorneys, law students, and other legal professionals in the Greater Orlando area. GOAABA is an affiliate of NAPABA.
 
The Jacksonville Asian American Bar Association (JAABA) is a non-profit, voluntary bar association formed on February 16, 2004 to represent the interests of Asian American attorneys, judges, law professors, law students and Asian American community in the Jacksonville area. JAABA is an affiliate of NAPABA.