Texas Bans Foreign Religious Law

Texas has passed groundbreaking legislation to prevent foreign religious governance systems from undermining American law, sparking a nationwide movement to protect constitutional sovereignty.

Story Highlights

Governor Abbott signed House Bill 4211 in late 2025, explicitly banning “Sharia compounds” that attempt to create private governance systems separate from Texas law
The EPIC City development project near Dallas triggered federal and state investigations after allegations of religious discrimination and potential Sharia law enforcement
DOJ completed its investigation in June 2025, finding no violations, though Texas Fair Housing Act inquiries continue
Federal legislators introduced the “No Sharia Act” in early 2026 to expand similar protections nationwide

Texas Takes Bold Stand Against Foreign Law

Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 4211 in late 2025, establishing Texas as the first state to explicitly target residential developments that could operate under religious governance systems. The legislation prevents projects like EPIC City from creating private legal frameworks that bypass state and federal authority. Abbott’s office emphasized the measure protects Texas residents from any attempt to establish parallel legal systems, reinforcing that American constitutional law remains supreme within state borders.

EPIC City Development Sparks Investigation

The East Plano Islamic Center announced EPIC City in 2024 as a Muslim-majority residential community featuring over 1,000 homes, a mosque, K-12 school, community college, and retail shops located 40 minutes from Dallas. Critics raised concerns about potential religious discrimination against non-Muslims and enforcement of Sharia law within the development. Senator John Cornyn requested a Department of Justice investigation in early 2025, coordinating with Texas agencies to examine fair housing compliance. Developers consistently denied any intention to enforce Sharia law, emphasizing full integration under American legal standards.

Federal Investigation Finds No Violations

The Department of Justice completed its inspection of EPIC City in June 2025, closing the investigation without findings of religious discrimination or illegal religious governance. The Texas Workforce Commission continues reviewing potential Fair Housing Act violations separately. Despite the cleared federal probe, the controversy prompted legislative action that fundamentally changed how Texas addresses faith-based community developments. The DOJ’s neutral findings contrast sharply with ongoing political concerns about protecting constitutional principles from religious overreach.

Historical Context of Religious Arbitration

Texas has permitted voluntary religious arbitration under the 1925 Federal Arbitration Act for decades, similar to Jewish Beth Din courts and Catholic marriage tribunals. The Dallas Islamic Tribunal, operational before 2015, handled Muslim divorces through voluntary Sharia-based mediation while remaining subordinate to Texas law. Dr. Taher El-badawi, serving as tribunal judge, clarified the system only addresses willing participants seeking religious guidance, not mandatory legal enforcement. This distinction between personal religious practice and state-imposed law remains central to understanding legitimate concerns versus sensationalized fears.

Nationwide Movement Gains Momentum

Following Texas’s legislative action, U.S. Representatives introduced the “No Sharia Act” in early 2026 to establish federal prohibitions against Islamic legal systems superseding American law. This builds on earlier state-level efforts, including Oklahoma’s 2010 constitutional amendment banning Sharia, which courts struck down for unconstitutionally targeting Muslims. Eight states have enacted “American Laws for American Courts” model legislation since post-9/11 concerns about foreign legal infiltration emerged. The Texas approach specifically targets governance structures rather than personal religious practices, potentially avoiding constitutional challenges that defeated broader bans. Conservative lawmakers view this framework as protecting individual liberty and limited government principles while preventing parallel legal systems that could erode constitutional protections for all citizens regardless of faith background.