Req. No. 10920 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) HOUSE BILL 2184 By: Kane AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to higher education; creating the Oklahoma Research and Education Protection Act; defining terms; requiring disclosure of c ertain gifts; requiring disclosure include certain information; requiring Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education maintain certain online information; requiring disclosure of certain contracts; requiring disclosure include certain information; requirin g State Regents maintain certain online information; permitting State Regents to conduct certain audits; authorizing Attorney General to bring certain civil action; authorizing certain persons to request civil action; providing for injunctive relief; autho rizing payment of certain costs; requiring State Regents send disclosures to Attorney General; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 91 01 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: This act shall be known as and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Research and Education Protecti on Act". Req. No. 10920 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 9102 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. As used in this act: 1. "Affiliate organization" means any entity under the control of, or established for the benefi t of, a state educational institution, including a direct -support organization; 2. "Contract" means an agreement for the acquisition of property or services by purchase, lease, or barter for the direct benefit or use of either of the parties; 3. "Direct-support organization " means an organization that is organized and operated to receive, hold, invest, and administer property and to make expenditures to or for the benefit of a state educational institution or for the benefit of a research and development park or a research and development entity affiliated with a state educational institution ; 4. "Foreign adversary" means a government other than the federal government of the Uni ted States, the government of any state, political subdivision of the state, tribe, territory, or possession of the United States and designated by the United States Secretary of State as hostile or a Country of Particular Concern (CPC); 5. "Foreign government" means a government other than the federal government of the United Stat es, the government of any Req. No. 10920 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 state, political subdivision of the state, tribe, territory, or possession of the United States ; 6. "Foreign source" means any of the following: a. a foreign government or an agency of a foreign government, b. a legal entity, governmental or otherwise, created solely under the laws of a foreign nation or group of nations, c. an individual who is not a citizen or a national of the United States or a terri tory or protectorate of the United States, d. a partnership, an association, a corporation, an organization, or any other combination of persons, including a subsidiary of an entity described in this subdivision, organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a foreign adversary, e. an agent, including a subsidiary or an affiliate of a foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of a foreign source, or f. a political party of a foreign adversary or an individual who is a member of a p olitical party of a foreign adversary; Req. No. 10920 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7. "Gift" means any gift, grant, endow ment, award, or donation of money or property of any kind, or any combination thereof, including a conditional or unconditional promise, pledge, or agreement to make a gift, endo wment, award, or donation; 8. "Grant" means a transfer of money for a specified purpose, including a conditional gift; 9. "Political party of a foreign adversary " means an organization or combination of individuals organized for the purpose of, or engaged in any activity devoted in whole or in part to, either of the following: a. the establishment, administration, control, or the acquisition of the administration or control, of the government of a foreign adversary , or b. the furtherance or influencing of the political or public interest, policies, or relations of the government of a foreign adversary ; 10. "State educational institution " means any institution supported wholly or in part by direct legislative appropriations and offering courses of educatio n of any kind beyond or in addition to the twelfth grade, or its equivalent, a s such grade is generally understood and accepted in the public school system of Oklahoma, whether called a university, college, junior college, school or academy; and Req. No. 10920 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 11. "State Regents" means the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 9103 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. A state educational institution shall disclose to the State Regents any gift of any value received directly or indirectly from any foreign source located in a foreign adversary as follows: 1. For a disclosable gift received after December 31, 2020, and before July 1, 2025, not later than September 1, 202 5. 2. For a disclosable gift received after June 30, 202 5, biannually on January 1 and July 1 of each subsequent year. B. A gift received from a foreign source through an intermediary or affiliate organization is considered an indirect gift to a state educational i nstitution and is subject to the disclosure required by subsection A. C. Unless otherwise prohibited or deemed confidential under state or federal law, a disclosure under subsection A must include the following information: 1. The date of the gift ; 2. The amount of the gift ; 3. The purpose of the gift ; 4. The identification of the persons for whom the gift is explicitly intended to benefit ; Req. No. 10920 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 5. Any applicable conditions, requ irements, restrictions, or terms made part of the gift ; 6. The name and country of residence or domicile of the foreign source; 7. The name and mailing address of the state educational institution receiving the gift ; and 8. If applicable, the date of te rmination of the gift. D. The State Regents shall establish and maintain a website to enable the public to access information concerning gifts disclosed by state educational institutions under this section. SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910 4 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. A state educational institution shall disclose to the State Regents any contract of any value ent ered into directly or indirectly with any foreign source located in a foreign adversary as follows: 1. For a disclosable contract entered into after December 31, 2020, and before July 1, 202 5, not later than September 1, 202 5. 2. For a disclosable contra ct entered into after June 30, 202 5, biannually on January 1 and July 1 of eac h subsequent year. B. A contract entered into with a foreign source through an intermediary or affiliate organization is considered an indirect Req. No. 10920 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 contract with a state educational institution and is subject to the disclosure required by subsection A. C. Unless otherwise prohibited or deemed confidential under state or federal law, a disclosure under subsection A must include the following information: 1. The date of the contract ; 2. The amount of the contract ; 3. The purpose of the contract ; 4. The identification of the persons for whom the contract is explicitly intended to benefit ; 5. Any applicable conditions, requirements, restrictions, or terms made part of the contract ; 6. A copy of the contract ; 7. The name and country of residence or domicile of the foreign source; 8. The name and mailing address of the state educational institution entering into the contract ; and 9. If applicable, the date of termination of the con tract. D. The State Regents shall establish and maintain a website to enable the public to access information concerning contracts disclosed by state educational institutions under this section. SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910 5 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: Req. No. 10920 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A. The State Regents may audit, or contract with a qualified person to audit, a state educational institution 's use of a gift disclosed under Section 3 of this act that the state educational institution received after June 30, 202 2, and before July 1, 202 5. B. The State Regents may audit, or contract with a qualified person to audit, a state educational institution 's use of the proceeds of a contract disclosed under Section 4 of this act that the state educational institution entered into after June 30, 202 2, and before July 1, 202 5. SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910 6 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The Attorney General may bring a civil action against a state educational institution that has failed to comply with th e Oklahoma Research and Education Protection Act based upon information known to the Attorney General or at the request of: 1. A member of the Legislature; 2. The Governor; 3. A member of the State Regents; 4. A member of the Oklahoma State Board of Education ; or 5. An Oklahoma taxpayer. If the person described in this subsection submits a signed affidavit affirming that a state educational institution is not in compliance with the requirements of this act. Req. No. 10920 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. If the Attorney General prevails in an action brought under this section, the Attorney General is entitled to injunctive relief to require the state educational institution to comply with the requirements of this act. In addition, a state educational institution that is found to have knowingly or willingly f ailed to comply with the requirements of this act must pay to the Attorney General: 1. The costs incurred in bringing the civil action under this section; and 2. Any associated costs of investigation and enforcement. C. The State Regents shall send copi es of all disclosures described in Sections 3 and 4 of this act to the Attorney General, in a manner prescribed by the Attorney General. SECTION 7. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025. SECTION 8. It being immediat ely necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an e mergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. 60-1-10920 AQH 12/31/24