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Sponsor says bill would bar state procurement and transfers to foreign adversaries
Summary
Representative Reedy described legislation to prevent procurement of finished technology products from entities owned or controlled by foreign adversaries and to bar sales or transfers of state land to such entities; the subcommittee voted to send the measure to full committee, 3–1.
Representative Reedy, sponsor of HB2548, told the Public Service Subcommittee the bill would “codif[y] existing state policies and practices” by blocking the state from procuring finished technology products from companies owned or controlled by foreign adversaries and by prohibiting state agencies from selling, leasing or transferring state-owned real property to those entities.
“This particular bill is coming from the administration to finally finish that out,” Reedy said, adding the measure aligns state policy with federal restrictions and includes a chief procurement officer waiver where no reasonable alternative exists. He said the bill also contains a safe-harbor for third-party vendors that can certify federal compliance.
Representative Salinas asked whether existing law already covered purchases from foreign adversaries; Reedy replied that earlier statutes constrained purchases but did not address transfers of state land, which HB2548 aims to close. After brief questions, the committee called the previous question and the clerk reported the vote: 3 ayes, 1 no. The bill was moved to the full committee.
