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Panel hears bill to screen procurement bidders for foreign-controlled entities
Summary
House Bill 188 would add a layer of scrutiny to state procurements to screen for entities connected to foreign adversaries; proponents cited ITAR and national security risks, while ALEC provided supportive analysis.
House Bill 188, a procurement security measure designed to keep ‘‘scrutinized entities’’ tied to certain foreign governments out of state contracts, was heard by the subcommittee.
Delegate Brian Chisholm, sponsor of HB 188, described the bill as a measure to ‘‘add an extra layer of protection for our state procurement systems’’ and said it mirrors approaches taken by other states and the federal government. Chisholm cited concerns about cybersecurity and infrastructure risk, noting Maryland’s proximity to federal installations and intelligence facilities.
Carla Jones, vice president of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s Center for International Freedom, testified in support and recommended using the ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) list as a guide to identify scrutinized entities. Jones also raised concerns about technology and equipment manufactured by companies ‘‘beholden to Beijing,’’ referencing federal bans on certain Chinese companies and citing the 2017 PRC national intelligence law in argument for state-level procurement screening.
The testimony framed the bill as both a national-security and a pro-local procurement measure; the record contains supportive statements but does not show final committee action on HB 188 during this hearing.
Votes at a glance: HB 188 — Testimony taken; no committee disposition recorded in the transcript.
