Foreign Influence On Education, Government Issued Devices Receives Testimony

(Source: MIRS.news, Published 03/26/2025) The House Government Operations Committee heard testimony on the remaining two bills of the foreign influence package on Wednesday that ban certain software from government-issued devices and prevent higher education institutions from entering into some agreements with certain conditions with foreign entities of concern.

Rep. Rachelle Smit (R-Shelbyville) said her HB 4235 would enhance cybersecurity by blocking Internet apps created, maintained or owned by foreign principals on government-issued networks and devices like phones or laptops.

As with the rest of the package, foreign countries of concern are defined as China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea and Venezuela.

Law enforcement can apply for waivers if the use of the applications has to do with investigations, Smit said.

The bill was referred to the House Rules Committee with a substitute.

Rep. William Bruck (R-Erie)’s HB 4239 prohibits higher education institutions from entering into an agreement or accepting a grant from a foreign country of concern if it involves direction on curriculum, limits on the school’s freedom to contract, or promotes a “detrimental” agenda to the safety and security of the U.S.

Kyle Zawacki, legislative director for the ACLU of Michigan, testified in opposition of the bills, saying that the absence of a definition for the word “detrimental” can lead to unwarranted restrictions.

Henry Duong, legislative director for Rising Voices, said the bills dangerously conflate the actions of foreign governments with the presence and contributions of international students, immigrant families, asylum seekers and refugees.

“Policies rooted in profiling, fear mongering and scapegoating marginalized communities do not reflect the values and have no place in our state law,” Duong said, urging a no vote on the bills.

The bill was reported favorably as substituted.

The committee also reported HB 4238, HB 4239 and HB 4242 to the floor and sent HB 4240 and HB 4241 to the Rules committee.

HB 4233 and HB 4234 had no action taken.