by Ethan Faverino | May 24, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
As Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs adopts a firmer rhetorical stance toward the People’s Republic of China, The Center Square states national security experts are closely monitoring whether she will sign a package of bipartisan bills designed to protect the state’s critical infrastructure, land, universities, procurement processes, and consumers from foreign adversary influence.
In previous years, Governor Hobbs vetoed several China-related measures, citing concerns over economic growth, investment portfolios, and impacts on the healthcare system. However, she now has the opportunity to act on up to seven new bills addressing these national security priorities.
In the past three years (2024-2026), Hobbs vetoed measures including:
- HB 2504 and HB 2584: Genetic sequencing restrictions involving foreign adversary technology
- SB 1340: Prohibiting state investments in foreign adversaries
- HB 2542: Banning state contracts with companies domiciled in China for goods or services
- SB 1109: Restrictions on foreign adversary land purchases near military bases and critical infrastructure
Her veto messages previously emphasized potential economic harm and described one bill as “weak and spineless.” This year, despite vetoing another genetic sequencing bill over healthcare system concerns, her office has signaled a tougher approach toward China.
The current package includes targeted protections:
- Arizona Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (HB 2134): Prohibits Chinese companies from providing software for critical infrastructure and bars contracts granting them access. It requires annual certifications, establishes a prohibited equipment list (including Wi-Fi routers, modems, school bus cameras, smart meters, solar inverters, and IoT modules), and creates a score communications channel for emergencies. Exceptions exist for cases with no reasonable alternatives and pre-approval.
- Land Protection Bill (SB 1683): Bars foreign adversary nations and agents from purchasing, leasing, or acquiring substantial interests (+15%) in Arizona real property. It prohibits installing surveillance or communications equipment and includes strong enforcement mechanisms, including divestiture, forfeiture, and reporting to federal authorities. Limited exceptions apply for inheritance or debt collection with prompt divestiture.
- Higher Education Protections (SB 1327): Requires the Arizona Board of Regents to review and approve gifts, contracts, or partnerships with foreign adversary nations. Universities must adopt comprehensive research security policies and annually report significant foreign funding.
- Procurement Safeguards (SB 2170): Prevents companies domiciled in and controlled by the Chinese government, military, or ruling party from bidding on state electronic and information technology contracts. Requires certification letters, with severe penalties for false statements.
- Lobbyist Registration (SB 1100): Mandates foreign adversary principals to register lobbyists, disclose activities, and pay fees. Creates a public database and penalties for nondisclosures.
- Consumer Fraud Enforcement (SB 1308): Establishes a Foreign Adversary Fraud Office in the Attorney General’s office to pursue violations involving foreign adversary technology. Creates dedicated funds for enforcement and technology replacement in critical infrastructure.
Josh Hodges, former senior director at the National Security Council under President Trump, current member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and national security advisor to House Speaker Mike Johnson, described these bills as “massively impactful.”
Hodges told The Center Square, “It is important these bills are passed collectively to ‘really address the full scope’ of the Chinese threat.” He noted that Hobbs has vetoed almost every piece of legislation related to China for “specious reason” often based on claims that bills were too vague or broad, despite federal agencies identifying ongoing subnational Chinese Communist Party efforts to embed operations in key U.S. assets.
He expressed hope that Hobbs’ recent shift in rhetoric will translate into action: “Arizonans will find out quickly whether their interests are being chosen over politics.” According to Hodges, vetoing these measures without strong justification could indicate undue influence or undisclosed lobbying.
These bills represent a significant opportunity for Arizona to align with growing nationwide efforts to protect critical assets from foreign adversary risks while maintaining necessary flexibility for public safety and economic needs.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Aug 15, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A state senator instrumental to protecting vulnerable children is also key to Republican control of the Arizona Legislature.
State Senator Shawnna Bolick is hoping her constituents give her the green light to return for her first full term in the Arizona Legislature after returning from a brief hiatus. Bolick was appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in July 2023, when then-State Senator Steve Kaiser surprisingly resigned from his office. The Phoenix-area mother of two had previously served for two terms in the Arizona House of Representatives (2019-2023).
Earlier this year, Bolick authored SB 1372, which “proscribes a court from ordering family reunification treatment that requires certain conditions for participation unless both parents consent,” according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives. The bill overwhelmingly passed the state senate with a 19-9 vote (with two members not voting), and it cleared the House with a 32-27 result (with one member not voting).
Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, signed the bill in April.
In a statement after the bill’s signing, Bolick said, “A number of families reached out to me with their horror stories surrounding reunification camps, and I was compelled to take action. Unqualified individuals have been profiting off of the disfunction being forced upon countless kids, and the judicial system seems to be none the wiser to this scheme. Many times, these kids are taken in the middle of the night, sent to seedy locations like motels, sometimes out of state, and are basically brainwashed into agreeing to spend time with a parent that is either mentally, emotionally, or physically harming the child, while having no contact with the parent that the child actually feels safe with.”
Bolick added, “I’m thrilled this bill was signed into law, but I’m utterly appalled nine out of 14 Senate Democrats and nearly all House Democrats voted ‘no’ on protecting our children from this heinous victimization. Their vote against this legislation shows their true colors. Democrats are more concerned with partisan games than following their conscience and doing what’s right for the safety and well-being of these vulnerable kids.”
Hobbs said, “I was glad to sign this bill to codify current best practices of the courts and prevent vulnerable children from being in potentially unwelcome and unhelpful situations.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from Arizona National Organization for Women, usually a champion for progressive candidates and causes, endorsed the bill, showing its broad appeal.
The effort on this family reunification legislation follows another from Bolick at the end of her first tenure in office. In 2022, Bolick sponsored HB 2134 to appropriate $150,000 for the award of school safety grants from the Arizona Department of Education, which was approved in that year’s budget. Bolick said, “As a mom of a teenager, I know how much our kids rely heavily on technology. This school safety grant is a small investment in addressing bullying and student safety in our schools. According to a November 2021 Arizona Child Fatality Review Annual Report, bullying is a top reason for children taking their own lives. Teens have told me they have tried to report an incident on their school campus with a trusted adult but were never taken seriously. It is my hope that the responsible use of this technology will lead to safer school campuses for our students.”
Bolick has also championed school choice proposals to protect children who are being bullied in their places of education. In 2019, Bolick wrote an opinion piece for the Arizona Republic about the unfortunate instances of her daughter being bullied and assaulted, leading to her parents looking to relocate schools “because we no longer felt the school would protect her.” She stated that her daughter “is just one of the thousands of children across our country who are victims of a crime on a K-12 public school campus.”
These episodes with her daughter, coupled with her vast experience in the New York City public school system, led Bolick to introduce the Lifeline for Student Crime Victims Act “to expand Empowerment Scholarship Account eligibility to include public school students who have been victims of battery, harassment, hazing, kidnapping, physical attack, robbery, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, threatening, intimidation, fighting, sex trafficking or human trafficking.”
The first-term lawmaker (at that time) closed her piece, writing, “As a freshman legislator, I had the choice to be a wallflower or jump into the fray solving problems facing our state. At the end of the day, I side with victims’ rights over the establishment.”
Judy Schwiebert signed in on the legislature’s Request to Speak system to oppose the bill – along with a representative from Save Our Schools Arizona.
If Bolick is given the chance to continue in the legislature for the next term, she is already looking at more opportunities to protect vulnerable children across the state. In an exclusive interview with AZ Free News earlier this summer, she said that she is looking at options to “deal with the bullying in our schools” and to “get to the root of the problem because bullying continues to get worse leading to kids missing weeks of school.”
Arizona Legislative District 2 is one of the most competitive in the state, with a 3.8% vote spread in the past nine statewide elections. It is very winnable for Republicans, however, as the party has emerged victorious in six out of those nine elections.
Senator Bolick will face off against Judy Schwiebert in the November General Election, who is running unopposed in the Democrat primary election.
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