Six weeks after publishing our landmark report (“States of Denial vs. States of Momentum”), we return to provide good news: Already in 2023 two states have enacted laws to end contracts with Chinese government-owned companies and ten more have considered the same.
In just the past few weeks, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem signed SB 189 on March 22 and Idaho Governor Brad Little signed HB 294 on April 3.
Our state legislative update can be found here and details or our interactive state momentum map have been updated so that readers can learn more about each of the bills with links to their text, sponsors and status.
We will closely follow the progress of six states that continue to consider legislation:
- Arkansas HB 1789 sponsored by Rep. Mindy McAlindon
- Indiana SB 477 by Sen. Justin Busch
- Maine LD 877 by Senator Lisa Keim
- New Hampshire HB 86 by Rep. Terry Roy
- New Jersey A5384 by Assemblyman Parker Space
- Oklahoma SB 43 and SB 107 by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom
These bills are crucial because the data we released in February shows that 28 states have cumulatively awarded more than $230 million worth of products restricted by military and defense agencies. Subsequently, China Tech Threat has received data on at least 13 more states. Check back this spring for state spending details on Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington or Wyoming.
Since a vast majority of state legislatures convene for only part of the year, already ten have adjourned with approximately 10 more ready to close in April, 15 in May, and 10 more in June. (The few remaining states operate a fulltime legislature, like the U.S. Congress.) We will be closely following all of these actions in the months ahead.