Senate passes bill barring universities from accepting money from 'foreign adversary' govs
The Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would prohibit public universities and colleges from accepting gifts or donations from foreign adversary governments ― the state's latest effort to protect itself from potential outside interference.
Foreign adversaries are governments that pose a risk to U.S. national security as defined by the commerce secretary, and currently include China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea and Venezuela.
In November, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order barring all state agencies and public institutions of higher education from accepting gifts from foreign adversary countries or working with companies owned or controlled by "hostile foreign nations" to protect the state against potential interference.
Senate Bill 1741, authored by Sen. Tan Parker, R-Bridgeport, and co-authored by Sen. Brent Hagenbuch, R-Denton, would codify the directive prohibiting higher education institutions from accepting gifts from such governments, and would also require any faculty member, staff member or student with access to "sensitive, proprietary, or export-controlled research or information" to undergo training on foreign influence and intellectual property theft.
SB 1741 would also require universities to report foreign contracts and gifts annually to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Universities currently report foreign gift and contracts to the U.S. Department of Education as per federal law. The THECB would also create a reporting system.
Parker said public institutions are "increasingly vulnerable" to foreign interference as they become more global, thus necessitating this bill.
"By adopting this committee substitute SB 1741, we can help protect the intellectual property of our universities, maintain Texas' competitive edge in research and innovation and safeguard our national security," Parker said.
A similar bill in the House, House Bill 173 by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Grapevine, is pending in the Higher Education Committee. HB 127 by Rep. Terry Wilson, R-Georgetown, who chairs the House Higher Education Committee, would also bar public universities and colleges from accepting gifts from foreign adversaries and charge the coordinating board with reviewing and publicly posting contracts with foreign adversaries. It is pending in committee.
Outside of higher education, the Senate passed SB 17 on March 19, which would restrict individuals, businesses, and government entities from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea from owning property in Texas, excluding U.S. citizens and green card holders. Proponents say it will safeguard Texas from external interference, but opponents argue that it would constitute discrimination and harm the Texas economy.
Other foreign interference-related bills up for consideration include Mineola Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes' SB 1273, which would establish the Higher Education Research Security Council to ensure research is secure and Bastrop Republican Rep. Stan Gerdes' HB 119, which would prohibit compensation for lobbying activities on behalf of foreign adversary governments.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate pass bill to ban foreign adversary gifts to universities
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