Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation aimed at countering the negative impact of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the state. The bills limit Chinese purchases of land near military bases and critical infrastructure, safeguard digital data from Chinese spies, and eliminate Chinese influence in Florida's education system. Florida hopes other states will look to their example.
“Florida is taking action to stand against the United States’ greatest geopolitical threat — the Chinese Communist Party,” DeSantis said in a news release. “I’m proud to sign this legislation to stop the purchase of our farmland and land near our military bases and critical infrastructure by Chinese agents, to stop sensitive digital data from being stored in China, and to stop CCP influence in our education system from grade school to grad school. We are following through on our commitment to crack down on Communist China.”
DeSantis signed SB 264, which imposes limitations on governmental entities that wish to enter into contracts with foreign entities and countries of concern, the news release said. It also restricts the sale or transfer of agricultural land and other real property interests to foreign principals, including the People's Republic of China and its affiliates. The bill also includes amendments to electronic health record statutes, which mandate that health records must be stored in the United States.
SB 846, or Agreements of Educational Entities with Foreign Entities, forbids state colleges, universities and their employees from requesting or accepting any gifts from foreign colleges or universities. It also restricts public colleges and universities from receiving grants, partnerships or agreements from foreign universities in countries of concern. Permission from the Board of Governors or State Board of Education is required for any state college or university to enter into such partnerships or agreements. Additionally, the bill prohibits any private schools that are part of the state's school choice scholarship program from being owned, operated or controlled by any person or entity associated with a foreign country of concern.
SB 258 mandates that the Department of Management Services generates a list of prohibited applications owned by foreign principals or countries of concern, specifically China, due to their potential cybersecurity and data privacy risks. This legislation directs government and educational institutions in Florida to prevent access to these prohibited applications on all government servers and devices.
“Food security is national security, and we have a responsibility to ensure Floridians have access to a safe, affordable and abundant food supply,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said in a statement. “China and other hostile foreign nations control hundreds of thousands of acres of critical agricultural lands in the U.S., leaving our food supply and our national security interests at risk. Restricting China and other hostile foreign nations from controlling Florida’s agricultural land and lands near critical infrastructure facilities protects our state, provides long-term stability, and preserves our economic freedom. This bill is long overdue, and I thank Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, House Speaker Paul Renner, Senator Jay Collins and Representative David Borrero for their leadership on this issue and their commitment to protecting Florida and our security interests.”
