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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has officially signed House Bill 4211 into law, targeting the development of residential communities with religious exclusivity, like the contentious EPIC City project in Collin County. The legislation prohibits the formation of entities known as Sharia compounds and aims to shield Texans from discrimination and deceptive housing practices.
The signing ceremony took place in McKinney, joined by numerous state and local officials including Congressman Keith Self, Senator Angela Paxton, and several state representatives. Abbott emphasized that the law addresses two primary concerns: safeguarding religious freedom and protecting the right to contract.
“Religious freedom is a fundamental aspect of the Texas Constitution,” Abbott stated. He explained that the organizers of EPIC City intended to establish a Muslim-only enclave, enforce Sharia law among residents, and limit land sales outside the community boundaries. Abbott assured that the new law will prevent such measures, ensuring that no group can impose Sharia law or establish segregationist “no-go zones” within Texas.
According to a Texas state press release, House Bill 4211 regulates business schemes involved in developing residential areas, preventing discriminatory housing practices and unfair investment tactics that could harm residents. All disputes related to these developments must be settled in either state or federal courts, rather than through any religious or alternative justice systems.
Local residents at county meetings claimed EPIC City would function as an “Islamic compound” with Sharia law being enforced. Dan Cogdell, representing EPIC City’s legal team, vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as false and driven by political motives. “We never aimed to impose Sharia law or create a Muslim-only zone,” Cogdell asserted. “Our clients are professionals—doctors, lawyers, engineers—law-abiding citizens seeking peaceful living. These claims are just propaganda.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) also criticized Abbott’s statements, describing them as “hurtful and dangerous” to Austin’s nearly one million Muslim residents. Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-DFW director, commented, “There are no so-called Sharia compounds. Spreading this fear only divides communities and is entirely unfounded.”
EPIC City, announced in 2024 by members of the East Plano Islamic Centre via Community Capital Partners, was envisioned as a 402-acre, Muslim-friendly neighborhood near Josephine in rural Collin County. The master plan included over 1,000 homes, a mosque, a faith-based K-12 school, apartments, a senior living facility, and retail outlets.
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