Oklahoma is looking to bolster its defenses against potential foreign interference and influence. At the forefront of this initiative, State Senator Brian Guthrie convened an interim study with the Senate Judiciary Committee to explore the adoption of state-level Foreign Agent Registration laws akin to the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Established in 1938, FARA mandates that individuals who lobby or act on behalf of foreign governments or entities to disclose their political activities.
In a bid to safeguard Oklahoma's sovereignties, Guthrie emphasized the necessity to quickly to follow the precedent set by Texas, Utah, Louisiana, and Nebraska, which have identical legislation. "It’s time to take action in Oklahoma and ensure that our state is protected from foreign influences like the Chinese Communist Party that seek to undermine our values and economy," Guthrie stated in a press release. The Senator also expressed gratitude towards those who participated in the study and contributed their insights on how these protections could be implemented in the state.
The panel of experts and industry stakeholders discussing this matter featured voices like Jan Jekielek of the Epoch Times, Thomas Rawlings with State Shield, Lee Ann Bruce Boone, who directs the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, and Bradley Clark, General Counsel of the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office. Their presentations are accessible for those interested in the detailed discourse presented during the committee study.
Citizens who want to see the full breadth of the interim study and speaker presentations can now conveniently do so online. For additional information, including viewing the Senate Judiciary Committee's study materials, visit the Oklahoma State Senate's official website provided in the link: oksenate.gov.
