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Committee lays over bill aimed at blocking state contracts with foreign adversaries
Summary
A state House committee heard House Bill 4193, which would bar state agencies from contracting with entities deemed foreign adversaries; lawmakers raised enforcement and operational concerns — including effects on drones used by public safety — and agreed to lay the bill over for revisions with OMES.
A House committee on Thursday heard House Bill 4193, a measure the bill's author said is meant "to be certain that Oklahoma taxpayer dollars do not flow to countries or entities that do not have our best interest at heart or are adversarial to the United States or to Oklahoma." Representative Chapman, the bill's presenter, asked the panel to allow more time to refine the language with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
The bill, Chapman said, is an updated version of a measure that passed the House previously and is being carried in the Senate by Senator Fricks; a working proposed committee substitute (PCS) mirrors that Senate text. Chapman moved for adoption but later indicated he would lay the bill over to give staff and OMES time to address drafting and enforcement issues.
Lawmakers pressed Chapman on how the proposal would work in practice. Representative West asked whether a company disqualified under the bill could reapply; Chapman confirmed the current draft makes a company ineligible to bid on a state contract for 60 months (five years). Representative Gandy said he supported the bill's intent but objected to voting on language that will change, and said he could not give a "blanket yes" without seeing final amendments.
Members and the presiding member raised enforcement and operational concerns. The presiding member described conversations with OMES and the central purchasing director and said determining whether taxpayer dollars ultimately reach a foreign adversary is complex because of multiple layers in supply chains. As an example, he noted that a single vendor-brand drone can be widespread in public-safety work and replacing such equipment could be expensive; "Some of these drones ... may run anywhere between 30 and $40,000," he said, adding that payloads such as cameras can cost "6 to $7,000" and higher.
Chapman said the sponsor and staff are discussing alternatives, including amending existing law to give the state purchasing director clearer authority to disallow or terminate contracts with identified foreign adversaries rather than relying on the bill in its current form. He told the committee he is willing to lay the bill over and continue work with OMES and oversight staff.
The committee did not take a final vote. The sponsor agreed to return with revised language; the bill will be revisited in a future oversight hearing.
