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HLS 26RS-2506 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1184
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARLSON
PUBLIC CONTRACTS: Prohibits public contracts with entities owned or controlled by
foreign adversaries for the provision of artificial intelligence technology
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 39:199.1 and to enact R.S. 17:351.1(F), Subpart A of Part I of
3 Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of
4 R.S. 17:1421, and 3393(A)(2)(d)(iii), R.S. 24:38.1, R.S. 38:2216.2, and R.S.
5 39:200.1 and 1602.3 relative to public contracts; to prohibit contracts by certain
6 public entities for certain technology services or products unless certain conditions
7 are met; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions; to provide for an
8 effective date; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:351.1(F), Subpart A of Part I of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the
11 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:1421, and 3393(A)(2)(d)(iii) are
12 hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §351.1. Textbooks and other instructional materials; review; adoption; procurement;
14 distribution
15 * * *
16 F.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on and after July
17 1, 2027, no contract that procures artificial intelligence technology, software, or
18 products or includes products or services utilizing artificial intelligence technology,
19 software, or products shall be executed unless the vendor provides an affidavit
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1 signed by an authorized representative attesting that the vendor meets all of the
2 following criteria:
3 (a) The vendor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
4 (b) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the vendor.
5 (c) The vendor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
6 concern.
7 (d) The vendor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
8 country of concern.
9 (2) For the purposes of this Subsection, the following terms shall have the
10 following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
11 (a) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
12 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
13 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
14 (b) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
15 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
16 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
17 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
18 * * *
19 SUBPART A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
20 §1421. Higher Education Procurement Code; prohibitions
21 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
22 meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
23 (1) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
24 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
25 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
26 (2) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
27 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
28 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
29 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
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1 B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, on and after July
2 1, 2027, neither the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and
3 Agricultural and Mechanical College nor any institution or program it administers
4 shall enter into or extend a contract that procures artificial intelligence technology,
5 software, or products or includes products or services utilizing artificial intelligence
6 technology, software, or products unless the vendor provides an affidavit signed by
7 an authorized representative attesting that the vendor meets all of the following
8 criteria:
9 (1) The vendor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
10 (2) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the vendor.
11 (3) The vendor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
12 concern.
13 (4) The vendor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
14 country of concern.
15 * * *
16 §3393. Operational autonomy contingent on audit findings
17 A.
18 * * *
19 (2)
20 * * *
21 (d)
22 * * *
23 (iii)(aa) Notwithstanding any provision of law or the higher education
24 procurement code to the contrary, on and after July 1, 2027, no contract that procures
25 artificial intelligence technology, software, or products or includes products or
26 services utilizing artificial intelligence technology, software, or products shall be
27 executed unless the vendor provides an affidavit signed by an authorized
28 representative attesting that the vendor meets all of the following criteria:
29 (I) The vendor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
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1 (II) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the vendor.
2 (III) The vendor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
3 concern.
4 (IV) The vendor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
5 country of concern.
6 (bb) For the purposes of this Item, the following terms shall have the
7 following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
8 (I) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
9 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
10 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
11 (II) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
12 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
13 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
14 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. R.S. 24:38.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
17 §38.1. Artificial intelligence; prohibited contracts with foreign countries of concern
18 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
19 meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
20 (1) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
21 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
22 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
23 (2) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
24 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
25 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
26 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
27 B. On and after July 1, 2027, no agency or entity in the legislative branch
28 shall enter into or extend a contract that procures artificial intelligence technology,
29 software, or products or includes products or services utilizing artificial intelligence
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1 technology, software, or products unless the vendor provides an affidavit signed by
2 an authorized representative attesting that the vendor meets all of the following
3 criteria:
4 (1) The vendor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
5 (2) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the vendor.
6 (3) The vendor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
7 concern.
8 (4) The vendor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
9 country of concern.
10 Section 3. R.S. 38:2216.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §2216.2. Artificial intelligence; prohibited contracts with foreign countries of
12 concern
13 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
14 meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
15 (1) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
16 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
17 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
18 (2) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
19 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
20 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
21 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
22 B. On and after July 1, 2027, a public entity shall not enter into or extend a
23 contract for artificial intelligence technology, software, or products or includes
24 products or services utilizing artificial intelligence technology, software, or products
25 unless the contractor provides an affidavit signed by an authorized representative
26 attesting that the contractor meets all of the following criteria:
27 (1) The contractor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
28 (2) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the contractor.
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1 (3) The contractor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
2 concern.
3 (4) The contractor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
4 country of concern.
5 Section 4. R.S. 39:199.1 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 39:200.1 and
6 1602.3 are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §199.1. Alternative procedures
8 A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, and except as
9 provided in Subsection B of this Section, an agency shall not be required to follow
10 the procedures provided in this Part or the Louisiana Procurement Code for
11 procurement of software and the hardware used to support the software if the
12 alternative procedures to be used by the agency are approved by the Joint Legislative
13 Committee on Technology and Cybersecurity and the specific procurement is
14 approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.
15 B. The provisions of R.S. 39:1602.3 shall apply to any procurement executed
16 pursuant to the provisions of this Section.
17 * * *
18 §200.1. Artificial intelligence; prohibited contracts with foreign countries of
19 concern
20 The provisions of R.S. 39:1602.3 shall apply to any procurement executed
21 pursuant to the provisions of this Part.
22 * * *
23 §1602.3. Artificial intelligence; prohibited contracts with foreign countries of
24 concern
25 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
26 meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
27 (1) "Artificial intelligence" means a machine-based system that can, for a
28 given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
29 decisions influencing real or virtual environments.
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1 (2) "Foreign country of concern" means the People's Republic of China, the
2 Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic
3 of Korea, or the Republic of Cuba. The term shall include any agency of one of
4 these countries and any entity under the control of one of these countries.
5 B. On and after July 1, 2027, no governmental body or governmental entity
6 shall procure artificial intelligence technology, software, or products or supplies or
7 services that utilize artificial intelligence technology, software, or products unless
8 the vendor provides an affidavit signed by an authorized representative attesting that
9 the vendor meets all of the following criteria:
10 (1) The vendor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
11 (2) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the vendor.
12 (3) The vendor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of
13 concern.
14 (4) The vendor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign
15 country of concern.
16 Section 5. The provisions of this Section shall become effective July 1, 2027.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1184 Original 2026 Regular Session Carlson
Abstract: Prohibits state and local entities from entering into public contracts to obtain or
utilize artificial intelligence ("AI") technology, software, or products from vendors
headquartered in or controlled by foreign countries of concern.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Present law (R.S. 17:351.1) requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE) to establish a process for the review, adoption, procurement, and distribution of free
textbooks and other instructional materials, which are supplied without charge to children
at the elementary and secondary education levels. Such purchases are exempt from the La.
Procurement Code (R.S. 39:1572). Present law further authorizes each public school and
school district to purchase other instructional materials.
Proposed law restricts the authority of a public entity purchasing textbooks and other
instructional materials to enter into or extend a contract on or after July 1, 2027, that
provides AI technology, software, or products or includes products or services utilizing AI
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technology, software, or products unless the contractor provides an affidavit signed by an
authorized representative attesting that the contractor meets all of the following criteria:
(1) The contractor is not owned by a foreign country of concern.
(2) No foreign country of concern has a controlling interest in the contractor.
(3) The contractor is not organized under the laws of a foreign country of concern.
(4) The contractor does not have its principal place of business in a foreign country of
concern.
Proposed law defines "foreign country of concern" as the People's Republic of China, the
Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, or the Republic of Cuba and includes any agency of one of these countries and any
entity under the control of one of these countries.
HIGHER EDUCATION PROCUREMENT
Present law (R.S. 3195.5) establishes the higher education procurement code as established
by La. State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (LSU) and approved by
the division of administration. Proposed law (R.S. 17:1421 and 3393) place the same
restriction on procurement of AI technology, software, or products or supplies and services
utilizing AI technology, software, or products pursuant under the higher education
procurement code as placed on elementary and secondary instructional materials.
PUBLIC BID LAW
Present law (Title 38) establishes the Public Bid Law to govern generally the letting of
contracts for:
(1) The erection, construction, alteration, improvement, or repair of any public facility
or land owned, used, or leased by a public entity.
(2) Contracts for goods or services by political subdivisions.
Proposed law places the same restriction on procurement of AI technology, software, or
products or supplies and services utilizing AI technology, software, or products as placed
on elementary and secondary instructional materials.
STATE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) PROCUREMENT
Present law (Title 39) establishes special procurement mechanisms for all state agencies in
the executive branch, except those of a statewide elected official, for the purchase, lease, and
rental of IT equipment, related services, and software.
Proposed law requires application of La. Procurement Code restrictions on certain AI
contracts to any procurement made pursuant to present law for IT equipment, related
services, and software.
LA. PROCUREMENT CODE
Present law (Title 39) establishes the La. Procurement Code to govern buying, purchasing,
renting, leasing, or otherwise obtaining supplies, services, or major repairs by any
"governmental body" (an entity or official of the executive branch of state government) and
any political subdivision that elects to utilize the La. Procurement Code.
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Proposed law places the same restriction on procurement of AI technology, software, or
products or supplies and services utilizing AI technology, software, or products as placed
on elementary and secondary instructional materials.
LEGISLATIVE PROCUREMENT
Present law (Title 24) provides laws for the general operation and management of the entities
that comprise the legislative branch of government (House, Senate, Legislative Auditor,
Legislative Fiscal Office, La. Law Institute, etc.).
Proposed law places the same restriction on the legislature regarding procurement of AI
technology, software, or products or supplies and services utilizing AI technology, software,
or products as proposed law places on the executive branch and local governments.
(Amends R.S. 39:199.1; Adds R.S. 17:351.1(F), 1421, and 3393(A)(2)(d)(iii), R.S. 24:38.1,
R.S. 38:2216.2, and R.S. 39:200.1 and 1602.3)
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