Committee advances bill to block certain foreign‑owned apps on government devices; committee also reports several bills to rules

Lansing — The Michigan House Committee on Government Operations advanced House Bill 42‑35 on Thursday, adopting a substitute and reporting the bill to the committee on rules with a recommendation.

House Bill 42‑35 would require public employers to block certain “prohibited applications” on public networks and restrict access to those applications on government‑issued devices, such as phones and laptops. The bill defines prohibited applications as internet applications created, maintained or owned by foreign principals from countries the bill lists, including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela, and characterizes such apps as posing risks including data collection, cyber espionage and disinformation.

Representative Smith, who testified on HB 42‑35, told the committee the bill includes waiver provisions and exceptions for law‑enforcement officers who may need access for investigations or public‑safety work. She said public employers can request waivers from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget for specific employees under specified conditions.

Representative McFaul asked whether the bill’s restrictions would impede university and recruiting communications; Representative Smith said the committee’s current language limits exemptions primarily to law‑enforcement uses and that she would follow up to confirm whether university communications or lower‑level communications staff would be eligible for waivers.

The committee adopted an H‑1 substitute that changes an effective date and then voted to report the bill with recommendation as substituted to the committee on rules.

Votes at a glance - HB 42‑35: Adopt H‑1 substitute (mover: Representative Vanderwall). Committee roll call: 3 yeas, 0 nays, 2 pass; substitute adopted. Motion to report HB 42‑35 with recommendation as substituted (mover: Vice Chair Harris). Committee roll call: 3 yeas, 0 nays, 2 pass; reported with recommendation as substituted to committee on rules. - HB 42‑38: H‑1 substitute adopted; reported with recommendation as substituted (committee roll: 3 yeas, 0 nays, 2 pass). - HB 42‑39: Reported with recommendation as substituted (see separate article for detailed discussion). - HB 42‑40, HB 42‑41, HB 42‑42: Each bill was reported to the committee on rules with recommendation; committee roll calls recorded as 3 yeas, 0 nays, 2 pass for each motion to report.

What the device bill would do - Require public employers to block listed foreign‑owned applications on state networks and restrict access on government devices. - Allow waivers and exceptions for law enforcement and permit public employers to request waivers from the Department of Technology, Management and Budget for individual employees under specified conditions.

Why it matters Supporters framed HB 42‑35 as a cybersecurity measure consistent with executive‑branch bans on particular apps for federal and state devices. Committee members expressed concern about how strictly the waiver and exemption language would be applied in practice to communications and recruitment functions at public institutions.

Committee action does not constitute final approval; reporting the bills sends them to the next committee or floor step in the legislative process.