Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed legislation into law that seeks to push back against the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the state of Florida.
“Florida is taking action to stand against the United States’s greatest geopolitical threat — the Chinese Communist Party,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I’m proud to sign this legislation to stop the purchase of our farmland and land near our military bases and critical infrastructure by Chinese agents, to stop sensitive digital data from being stored in China, and to stop CCP influence in our education system from grade school to grad school. We are following through on our commitment to crack down on Communist China.”
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On Monday, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 264 that will limit land ownership in the state by Chinese citizens. The law, however, provides means for Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas to purchase single parcels of land that are under two acres and situated at least five miles from military sites.
The governor also signed Senate Bill 258 that bans social media platforms, such as TikTok and WeChat, from use on government devices.
During the bill signing ceremony, DeSantis said the legislation “makes it very clear we don’t want the CCP in the Sunshine State.”
“They have established a position of economic might, of industrial hegemony, and their military is far stronger today than it was 20 or 25 years ago,” DeSantis said. “They have a leader who’s very ideological and is intent on expanding CCP influence, not just in their region but even around the globe.”
Additionally, DeSantis signed a third bill, Senate Bill 846, that is set to restrict Chinese influence in Florida’s educational system through the limiting of gifts, grants, or partnerships with any college or university based in a “foreign country of concern,” such as China.
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Ray Rodrigues, chancellor of Florida’s university system, praised SB 846, saying it prevents certain countries from being able to “exploit the academic freedom that we have here” in Florida.
The new legislation will take effect on July 1.
