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Lawmakers debate vetting of foreign funds to public universities as ASU allegations surface on House floor
Summary
A floor exchange over SB 13-27 prompted partisan disagreement after a minority leader described committee speculation that Arizona State University had inappropriate ties; sponsor Rep. Gillette said the bill aims to require vetting and transparency of foreign funds to public universities.
On April 14 the Arizona House debated Senate Bill 13-27, a measure sponsors described as requiring vetting and disclosure of foreign funding to public universities. Representative Gillette, speaking for the committee, recommended the bill 'do pass' and said the proposal would require universities to disclose whether initiative proponents or funds originate from out of state.
Minority Leader De Los Santos put on the record that committee testimony had included "speculation" suggesting Arizona State University conspired with the Communist Party of China related to COVID-19, calling that line of committee discussion "bizarre, patently untrue." De Los Santos urged caution about such claims and objected to how the matter was characterized in committee.
Representative Gillette responded on the floor that the bill is intended to provide disclosure and vetting of foreign money to ensure it is not used for "nefarious purposes." Gillette said committee materials included a report indicating large amounts of foreign funding to ASU and stated, "All we do know is that ASU took over a $121,000,000 from The Republic Of China of unvetted money, the largest in the state." He framed SB 13-27 as a transparency measure rather than a restriction on research.
The House gave the Committee of the Whole a due-pass recommendation on the bill after the exchange.
Why it matters: The bill would change oversight of foreign funding to public universities in Arizona and touched off disagreement about committee characterizations of ASU; assertions about the university’s funding sources and any national-security implications will require verification beyond floor remarks.
Next steps: SB 13-27 has a committee 'do pass' report; if the House proceeds to third reading it could be scheduled for a final recorded vote and, if passed, would be transmitted to the Senate.
