SB 373 Summary: Research and Education Protection Act of 2025

• Prohibits public schools and higher education institutions from accepting gifts, research funding, contracts, or partnerships from designated "countries of concern" (China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Qatar, Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, and designated terrorist organizations) effective July 1, 2025.

• Requires disclosure of all past gifts and contracts from foreign sources received since December 31, 2013, within 60 days; establishes Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) review process with 30-day decision timelines for proposed gifts and contracts.

• Mandates institutions with $10 million+ research budgets screen research employees, graduate/undergraduate students, and visiting researchers with foreign citizenship or country-of-concern affiliations; requires research integrity offices to verify credentials and submit denied applicants to FBI.

• Prohibits higher education partnerships with countries of concern unless institutions maintain safeguards protecting intellectual property and national security; establishes annual reporting requirements to state leadership on foreign partnerships and agreements.

• Imposes civil penalties of 105% of undisclosed gift or contract amounts payable from non-state funds; provides whistleblower protections and 25% reward for employees reporting violations; declares emergency effective date of July 1, 2025.