Bill > HB2661

This bill, known as the "Foreign Adversaries Out of Higher Education Act," aims to protect Kansas postsecondary educational institutions from undue influence and intelligence gathering by prohibiting them from accepting gifts, grants, or other funding exceeding $100,000 from designated "countries of concern" (initially including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Qatar) or their "foreign principals," which are entities acting on their behalf, such as Confucius Institutes or certain Qatari-backed organizations. The act also requires these institutions to report any foreign gifts or contracts valued at $10,000 or more to the state board of regents, creating a public transparency database, and prohibits certain entities like Confucius Institutes from operating on campuses, with a deadline for closure by January 1, 2027, unless specifically authorized by the legislature. Furthermore, it mandates training for law enforcement officers on how foreign adversaries infiltrate higher education and establishes a "Foreign Adversaries Out of Higher Education Fund" to support enforcement and educational efforts. Violations can result in the return of funds, civil penalties up to $250,000, and the loss of state research grant eligibility for five years.

Budget and Finance

Education (House)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2661/