Proposed US State Legislative Actions on China in 2023: 5 Case Studies

State-Level Diplomacy and Security Concerns: Growing Legislative Action Towards China
Introduction
In response to perceived security risks, U.S. governors and state legislators have proposed an unprecedented volume of measures aimed at mitigating potential threats from China's actions.
This movement is supported by a series of original datasets that analyze trends and provides insights into legislative activities in five key states: Texas, Michigan, Hawai'i, Florida, and Missouri.
Top States for China-Related Measures
In 2023, the top five states for the volume of China-related measures introduced were: Texas (33), Michigan (20), Missouri (16), Mississippi (15), and New Jersey (15).
State-Level Case Studies
Texas
- 33 China-related measures introduced in 2023
- Focus on security concerns and foreign influence/interference
- Enacted bills included:
- SB 1260: Prohibits local airport contracts with PRC entities
- SB 1040: Bans organ transplant operations performed/sourced in China
- SB 1893: Prohibits TikTok and similar apps from state devices
Michigan
- 19 out of 20 measures introduced in 2023 solely sponsored by Republicans
- Top issue: Foreign land purchase/property acquisition
- Bills aim to restrict various engagements with China and other foreign adversaries
- Led by State Representatives Luke Meerman and Will Bruck, supported by former U.S. Ambassador and Congressman Mike Gallagher
Hawai'i
- Balanced mix of Democrat and Republican-sponsored measures
- Democrats aimed to expand economic and cultural ties; Republicans focused on security
- HB 1200: Bans acquisition of unmanned aircraft systems manufactured by PRC or Russia
- Resolutions supporting Ukraine and expressing concern about China's territorial ambitions towards Taiwan
- Democrats introduced resolutions urging a sister-state relationship with Fujian Province in China
Florida
- 4 bills enacted in 2023, focusing on security and educational restrictions
- SB 264: Restricts government contracts with foreign entities and property sales while requiring domestic storage of health records
- SB 846: Restricts educational agreements with foreign institutions and limits gifts from foreign schools
- SB 258: Bans apps from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea on state devices and networks
- Implementation has sparked widespread criticism from Asian-American, education, and academic communities
Missouri
- Tension between local engagement with China and state-level security concerns
- 16 measures introduced in 2023; 22 in 2024
- HB 903: Bans foreign ownership of agricultural land
- HB 919: Prohibits Chinese social media apps from state devices
- In 2023, State Treasurer Vivek Malek successfully urged the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS) Board of Trustees to divest pension fund investments from China, supported by Governor Mike Parson and other officials
- Foreign ownership of agricultural land became a central campaign issue in the 2024 gubernatorial primaries
Expert Quotes
"States are on the front lines of our New Cold War with the Chinese Communist Party." - Congressman Mike Gallagher, former chair of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP
"States have the ability to move more nimbly than the federal level." - Joseph Cella, former U.S. Ambassador and co-founder of the Michigan-China Economic and Security Review Group
"States need to do more to counter the China threat." - Joseph Cella in January 2024
Conclusion
The research presented in this article sheds light on the evolving state of U.S. state government perspectives towards China. State-level measures have focused on addressing a range of security, economic, and diplomatic concerns. As the global landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these legislative efforts will shape the future of U.S.-China relations.