Panel advances bill requiring public universities to report foreign gifts, creates waiver process

The House Committee on Government Operations on Tuesday adopted a substitute and reported House Bill 42‑39, a measure that would require public colleges and universities to report foreign gifts and contracts of $50,000 or more and to seek waivers for agreements with specified foreign countries or entities of concern.

Representative Brock, the bill sponsor, told the committee the package is intended to increase “transparency plus accountability equals risk mitigation,” and said the measure aims to add “guardrails” for publicly funded universities that enter into relationships with foreign entities. Brock said the substitute clarifies the federal agency involved as the U.S. Department of State and increases the role of the State University Board.

Supporters and the bill text, as presented, would: require annual reporting of gifts or contracts at or above a $50,000 threshold (including cumulative gifts from the same source), identify the giver and purpose, and require a waiver process for agreements with listed foreign countries or foreign entities of concern. Brock described the waiver process as one in which institutions…