Arizona's House of Representatives has passed HB2696, a bill aimed at protecting the state's infrastructure from security risks linked to Chinese technologies. Introduced by State Representative Nick Kupper, the bill seeks to prohibit the use of software and equipment from companies connected to the People's Republic of China, as reported by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Representative Kupper, with two decades of Air Force experience, praised the bill's passage, stating, "We’ve seen the extreme measures China will take to undermine our nation." He added, "The Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act is a crucial step in securing our power grids, water systems, and communications networks from those who seek to do us harm." The bill aims to protect Arizona's key sectors from technological threats, according to the Arizona House of Representatives.
Arizona's HB2696 would require the Arizona Corporation Commission to oversee regulatory compliance and approve agreements involving critical infrastructure with China. The bill also bans government contracts with Chinese state-linked vendors for school bus infraction detection systems. HB2696 is now set for Senate deliberation, as stated by the Arizona House of Representatives.
