Arizona House Passes Bill to Protect Critical Infrastructure From China

The proposal aims at any service provider or company doing business with the Chinese Communist Party.

A man types on a computer keyboard on Feb. 28, 2013. Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Arizona’s House of Representatives passed a bill on March 10 prohibiting the use of computer software and equipment from companies owned or controlled by the People’s Republic of China.

“In a world where the next war will be fought with technology as much as with troops, Arizona must stay ahead of the curve,” said Republican state Rep. Nick Kupper, the bill’s sponsor, and a 20-year Air Force veteran, in a statement.

“We cannot afford to allow companies controlled by China access to these highly sensitive systems. We’ve seen the extreme measures China will take to undermine our nation,” he added.

Kupper said the bill is an important step in securing the state’s power grids, water systems, and communications networks from global threats.

The Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act includes a provision that prohibits the use of software and equipment from companies owned by, based in, or controlled by China.

It also shifts regulatory oversight from the Arizona Commerce Authority to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), ensuring stricter compliance and enforcement.

Additionally, the bill will require preapproval from the ACC for any agreements involving China and a government entity or “publicly regulated utility” related to critical infrastructure.

According to the bill, providers of critical infrastructure services in Arizona must certify to Attorney General Kris Mayes that they do not use Wi-Fi routers or modems manufactured by the government of a foreign adversary.

This requirement applies to any company with a controlling interest held by a foreign adversary, as well as any company based in that country, the proposal states.

Preserving the ‘American Dream’

Under the proposal, the attorney general will publish a list of all prohibited Wi-Fi routers and modems on the office’s website by Dec. 31 and update the list annually thereafter.

The bill defines critical infrastructure as systems and assets, both publicly and privately owned, that are essential to Arizona and the United States.

It adds that the incapacitation or destruction of these systems and assets would significantly impact security, economic stability, or public health and safety.

Critical infrastructure under the bill proposal includes gas and oil production, water supply and purification, electrical power delivery systems, telecommunications networks, and transportation systems and services.

It also covers personal data storage, classified information storage, cybersecurity, and emergency services.

Furthermore, the bill lifts earlier restrictions on the sale, transfer, or investment of critical infrastructure by foreign adversaries and allows companies to use foreign cloud service providers.

Kupper said that the bill dovetails with the state’s House Republican Plan, which focuses on preserving the American Dream, promoting public safety, and ensuring personal freedoms.

The bill now goes before the state Senate for further consideration following House approval.