HB 150: Combating Threats from China Act of 2025 - Higher Education; enact

Currently, Georgia law has no specific requirement for the university system to track or disclose funding it receives from foreign countries considered adversaries of the United States. HB150 fills in a previously reserved section of state law (O.C.G.A. § 20-3-84) to create that requirement. The bill defines a 'foreign country of concern' as any nation the U.S. Secretary of Commerce has designated a foreign adversary, and extends that label to related entities and individuals connected to those countries. It requires the university system to file a report by January 31 and July 31 each year listing any funding over $1,000 received from these sources, including the amount, type, who provided it, copies of related contracts, and the purpose of the funding. The reports go to the Governor and the legislature's higher education committees. Money that individuals or families pay as tuition is exempted from this reporting requirement.

• Creates a semiannual reporting requirement for the University System of Georgia on funding from foreign countries, entities, or individuals designated as concerns.
• Defines 'foreign country of concern' as any nation labeled a foreign adversary by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce as of February 4, 2025.
• Requires reports due January 31 and July 31 to list the amount, type, source, and purpose of qualifying funding over $1,000, plus copies of related contracts.
• Sends these reports to the Governor, the House Higher Education Committee chair, and the Senate Higher Education Committee chair.
• Exempts tuition and related fee payments made by individuals or families from the reporting requirement.
• Gives the law the short title 'Combating Threats from Foreign Countries of Concern Act of 2025 - Higher Education.'

The University System of Georgia and its governing officials, who must compile and submit the new reports; the Governor and legislative higher education committee chairs, who receive them; and any foreign governments, foreign organizations, or individuals connected to designated adversary nations who provide funding to Georgia's public universities.

Georgians would gain regular public disclosure of financial ties between the state's public university system and countries the federal government treats as adversaries, such as funding for research, salaries, or grants, giving state officials more visibility into potential foreign influence on Georgia campuses.

• Section 1 gives the act its short title, the 'Combating Threats from Foreign Countries of Concern Act of 2025 - Higher Education.'
• Section 2 rewrites the previously reserved O.C.G.A. § 20-3-84 to define 'foreign country of concern,' 'foreign entity of concern,' 'foreign individual of concern,' and 'funding.'
• Section 2 sets the reporting deadlines of January 31 and July 31 each year, covering the two most recent calendar quarters.
• Section 2 lists five required elements of each report: amount, type, source description, related contracts, and purpose of funding.
• Section 2 exempts tuition and fee payments from individuals or families from the reporting requirement.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-05-12Effective Date 2025-07-01
2. 2025-05-12Act 127
3. 2025-05-12House Date Signed by Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
4. 2025-04-09House Sent to Governor (Cámara de Representantes)
5. 2025-04-04House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub (Cámara de Representantes)
6. 2025-03-31Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute (Senado)
7. 2025-03-31Senate Third Read (Senado)
8. 2025-03-27Senate Read Second Time (Senado)

• Tim Fleming (R, HD-114)Patrocinador principal
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Mitchell Scoggins (R, HD-014)
• Kasey Carpenter (R, HD-004)
• Katie Dempsey (R, HD-013)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)

1. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes6 de marzo de 2025

   145 a favor, 22 en contra (9 sin votar, 4 ausentes)

   Passage: House Vote #203

2. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2025

   32 a favor, 21 en contra (1 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Adoption Of Amendment #1 By The Senator From The 30th: Senate Vote #344

3. AprobadaVotación: Senado31 de marzo de 2025

   32 a favor, 19 en contra (3 sin votar, 2 ausentes)

   Passage By Substitute: Senate Vote #345

4. AprobadaVotación: Cámara de Representantes4 de abril de 2025

   98 a favor, 64 en contra (6 sin votar, 12 ausentes)

   Agree To Senate Substitute: House Vote #409

• higher education
• foreign funding disclosure
• university system of georgia
• national security
• China policy