Relating to: use restrictions on state and local government electronic devices.
AB 415 restricts state and local government employees from using electronic devices owned by their agencies to access social media, apps, or AI tools owned by entities located in "foreign countries of concern" (as defined by federal regulations). The bill directly affects government employees and contractors who use official devices for non-law enforcement work, banning access to specific foreign-owned technology. Exceptions allow written waivers from the secretary of administration for limited job-related purposes. This policy change aims to limit government use of technology linked to designated foreign adversaries, with no impact on law enforcement activities. The bill does not create new funding or require agency budget changes.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Vetoed
Mar 2026
Introduced Sep 15, 2025
Vetoed Mar 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Bill Text
→
Text as Enrolled
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from a draft proposal into the final enrolled version ready for signing. The most significant substantive change is the addition of new sections requiring the state administration department, legislature, and courts to create specific IT policies regarding foreign adversary technology. Additionally, the definition of 'foreign adversary' was updated to explicitly list countries like China, Russia, and Iran, and the effective date was set to January 31, 2027.
Scope change
The scope expanded from a general prohibition on using state devices for foreign social media and AI to a comprehensive mandate requiring the creation of specific IT policies and standards by various state branches to manage risks from foreign adversary technology.
REQUIREMENT
Added a new requirement for the Department of Administration, Legislative Technology Services Bureau, and Director of State Courts to develop and publish specific policies and standards for managing information technology owned or controlled by foreign adversaries.
DEFINITION
Added specific definitions for 'Artificial intelligence' and 'Generative artificial intelligence' to clarify the scope of restricted tools.
Updated the definition of 'foreign adversary' to explicitly list specific countries (China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela) and reference specific federal regulations.
TIMELINE
Added a specific effective date of January 31, 2027, for the new requirements.
Floor votes · Assembly Jan 22, 2026
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
41
Key actions
9
Committee
6
Amendments
10
Mar 20, 2026
Vetoed
Report vetoed by the Governor on 3-20-2026
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Introduced
LRB correction (Assembly Substitute Amendment 3)
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 18, Noes 15
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Amended
Senate Amendment 1 rejected, Ayes 18, Noes 15
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
Senate Amendment 1 offered by Senator Smith
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Transportation and Local Government, Ayes 3, Noes 2
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read a third time and passed, Ayes 53, Noes 44
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adopted
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 to Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Knodl
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Placed on calendar 1-22-2026 by Committee on Rules
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee on Rules
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report passage as amended recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 adoption recommended by Committee on Science, Technology, and AI, Ayes 4, Noes 2
lower
Nov 18, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 3 offered by Representative Knodl
lower
Nov 4, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 2 offered by Representative Knodl
lower
Nov 4, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl
lower
Oct 21, 2025
Introduced
Assembly Amendment 1 offered by Representative Knodl
lower
Sep 15, 2025
Introduced
Introduced by Representatives Knodl, Gustafson, Dittrich, Duchow, Goeben, Gundrum, Melotik, Mursau, O'Connor, Penterman, Piwowarczyk and Tittl;
cosponsored by Senators Cabral-Guevara, Bradley and Nass
lower
12 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Barbara Dittrich
RRepublican
P
Cindi Duchow
RRepublican
P
Dan Knodl
RRepublican
P
Gus Gustafson
RRepublican
P
Jeff Mursau
RRepublican
P
Jerry O'Connor
RRepublican
P
Jim Piwowarczyk
RRepublican
P
Joy Goeben
RRepublican
P
Paul Melotik
RRepublican
P
Paul Tittl
RRepublican
P
Rick Gundrum
RRepublican
P
Will Penterman
RRepublican
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