Governor Abbott Signs HB 4211 Banning Sharia Compounds in Texas

The Texas Legislature has been extremely busy in 2025. Legislators have introduced hundreds of bills, and while most don't pass, many do. These laws are intended to benefit Texans

The most recent law is once again protecting Texans, their property, and freedoms.

What is HB 4211?

HB 4211 was filed in March 2025, and on September 12, 2025, Governor Abbott signed this bill into law.

According to the Office of the Governor,

Governor Greg Abbott today ceremonially signed House Bill 4211 into law to ban residential property developments, like EPIC City, from creating Sharia compounds and defrauding and discriminating against Texans.

What is EPIC City?

EPIC City is a proposed residential and commercial development in Josephine, Texas.  Planned by the East Plano Islamic Center, the development is described as a self-contained, Islamic-principled community.

Federal Officials Asked to Investigate EPIC City Plans

This new development has faced scrutiny. Rep. John Cornyn sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon back in April to open an investigation into EPIC City.

The letter begins,

I write to recommend the Department of Justice open a civil rights investigation into whether a potential planned community in Texas would violate federal law. Specifically, I am concerned that a master-planned “community of thousands of Muslims” could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans.

Read More: New Texas Laws Block Foreign Land Purchases

What does Texas HB 4211 Cover?

• Creates a new chapter in the Texas Property Code
• Protects individuals from buying into entity-owned housing models
• Ensures freedom from forced arbitration or foreign laws
• Guarantees the right to transfer ownership freely
• Guards against discrimination and hidden fees

This bill also allows the Texas Attorney General to step in and investigate and stop developments using religious or corporate arrangements to enforce segregation or restrictive rules.

Read More: Texas Ten Commandments Classroom Law Put on Hold

Governor Abbott’s Statement on HB 4211

While speaking on HB 4211, Governor Abbott said that the developers of EPIC City tried to build a community limited to Muslims, where residents would be governed by Sharia Law and barred from reselling their property. He added that the law upholds religious freedom and prevents attempts to impose Sharia law on Texans

Lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of this law may be filed in Texas.