AR HB1561

Requires Arkansas higher education institutions to disclose gifts and contracts of $250,000 or more from foreign adversaries (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, and designated terrorist organizations) to their governing boards, with past gifts since December 31, 2019 disclosed within 60 days and future gifts requiring board approval

Mandates screening of job applicants who are citizens of foreign adversaries and not U.S. permanent residents before hiring for research positions at institutions with $10 million or more in federal research expenditures, including verification of employment history, publications, funding sources, and foreign affiliations

Prohibits institutions from participating in cultural exchange agreements with foreign adversaries unless they address an overwhelming state or national need and do not allow foreign adversary influence over curricula or promote agendas detrimental to U.S. security

Creates criminal penalties for trade secret theft benefiting foreign governments, classified as a Class D felony (upgraded to Class C felony when intended to benefit a foreign adversary), and civil fines of $10,000-$20,000 for institutions that knowingly fail to make required disclosures

Requires governing boards to review and eliminate software linked to foreign adversaries, establish foreign travel approval programs for research staff by January 1, 2026, and submit annual reports on foreign adversary partnerships beginning December 1, 2026