Arizona committee backs bill to bar telecom gear from foreign adversaries, 5–1
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Summary
The state House Science and Technology Committee voted 5–1 to give Senate Bill 10‑46 a do‑pass recommendation after a witness said the measure would reduce Arizona’s exposure to vendors tied to foreign surveillance. Critics raised cost and federal‑overlap concerns.
A House Science and Technology Committee on Wednesday voted 5–1 to recommend Senate Bill 10‑46, legislation that would prohibit critical telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona from using equipment manufactured or owned by a designated foreign adversary and would require annual certification of compliance to the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Staff summarized the measure as imposing civil penalties of at least $10,000 and up to $100,000 per day for noncompliance and barring providers in violation from receiving state, local or federal funds for development or support of telecommunications infrastructure. The staff summary also said providers would be required to certify by Jan. 1 each year that covered equipment does not use hardware from a listed foreign adversary.
Marina Macklin, a vice president at American Global Strategies and a former federal official, testified in support of the bill, calling it a practical step to limit risks she said arise from state and local use of foreign‑adversary‑linked telecom equipment. "This bill will harden Arizona's defenses at these points of least resistance where China seeks openings today for surveillance and planning and tomorrow for points of leverage and control," Macklin said, adding that states can phase implementation to reduce near‑term costs to public procurement.
Committee members pressed Macklin on costs and whether the bill duplicates federal programs such as existing rip‑and‑replace funding. Macklin replied the bill primarily targets public procurement and that phased implementation and federal programs can be complementary.
Vice Chair Justin Wilmeth moved the measure and spoke in strongly national‑security terms during debate, saying state action is warranted in some procurement lanes. Representative Liguori raised timeline concerns and said she would vote no in committee. "So I will be voting no in committee," Liguori said during discussion.
The chair reported a committee tally of five ayes and one nay, giving SB 10‑46 a do‑pass recommendation to the next stage of legislative consideration. The committee did not take additional amendments on the floor; the motion as recorded was that SB 10‑46 be returned with a do‑pass recommendation.
The bill now moves to the next committee or the full House calendar under normal legislative procedures.
(Reporting based on testimony and the committee roll call; the committee recorded a 5–1 vote and did not record individual votes for every member in the audio transcript.)
