SB 400

Under this bill, no official, employee, or contractor of a state agency or local governmental unit, other than a law enforcement officer for law enforcement purposes, may use an electronic device that is owned, operated, or leased by a state agency or local governmental unit to do any of the following:

1. Download, use, or access a web-based or other social media application, channel, or platform that is owned or operated by an entity located in a foreign country of concern.

2. Use any software, software application, or artificial intelligence tool or algorithm that is owned or operated by an entity located in a foreign country of concern.

Under the bill a “foreign country of concern” is a country designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce as a foreign adversary of the United States. Those countries currently include China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.

In addition to law enforcement officers as noted above, the bill provides and exemption for an official, employee, or contractor of a state agency or local governmental unit who obtains a written waiver from the secretary of administration for limited purposes related to the performance of their duties. The secretary of administration may issue such waivers at his or her discretion.