Representative Chad Puryear, R‑District 25, presented Senate Bill 317, which he said would prevent institutes of higher education from engaging in certain activities with “prohibited foreign entities,” including conducting classified research, conducting agricultural research under contract, producing or selling agricultural products including seeds, or signing nondisclosure agreements with those entities. The committee voted to pass the bill on a voice vote.

Nut graf: Sponsors characterized SB 317 as a measure to protect Arkansas agriculture and research from influence by foreign adversaries; some committee members questioned whether the prohibition could disrupt farmers’ access to research products, given that foreign‑owned companies sell widely used products and seed varieties.

Discussion: Committee members asked whether limiting partnerships and purchases from foreign‑owned companies could slow access to agronomic innovations that farmers use. Representative Representative Garner raised concerns that China has purchased many companies that provide research products and that restricting use could delay access to crops or products farmers rely on. Sponsor Puryear acknowledged those concerns but said the bill followed a simple set of prohibitions and that the Senate had amended the measure to address certain student research issues earlier in the process.

Supporters said the bill is intended to reduce potential security risks to Arkansas agriculture and research; some members who supported the bill cited past instances when research materials were removed from Arkansas and mentioned arrests at airports connected to theft of seeds or research material as motivating examples.

The committee recorded no public speakers in opposition at the hearing; Representative Puryear moved passage and the measure passed on a voice vote.

Ending: SB 317 advances from committee to the next stage; sponsors said they will continue to monitor feedback from the agricultural community and noted the bill was amended in the Senate to address some concerns related to students and international researchers.