AB 683 — Relating to: prohibiting critical telecommunications infrastructure from including equipment manufactured by a foreign adversary. (FE)

Each referendum committee shall obtain from a person making a contribution, donation, or gift to the referendum committee a written affirmation that the person is not a foreign national and has not intentionally accepted contributions, donations, or gifts aggregating in excess of $100,000 from one or more foreign nationals during the 4-year period immediately preceding the date on which the person makes the contribution, donation, or gift.

(2) REPORTS .

For each report required under s.

11.0804, a referendum committee shall attest that it has obtained all the written affirmations under sub.

(1) for all contributions, donations, and gifts accepted by the commTheee.

committee shall also affirm that the donor associated with each contribution, - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 6 donation, or gift is not a foreign national, that the donor has not intentionally received, solicited, or accepted, directly or indirectly, contributions, donations, or gifts aggregating in excess of $100,000 from one or more foreign nationals during the 4-year period immediately preceding the date on which the committee accepts the contribution, donation, or gift, and that the committee has not intentionally received, solicited, or accepted a contribution, donation, or gift from a foreign national.

S ECTION 7.

11.1208 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 11.1208 (4) (a).

S ECTION 8.

11.1208 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

11.1208 (4) (b) 1.

No foreign national may, directly or indirectly, make a contribution, donation, or gift to a referendum committee and no referendum committee may, directly or indirectly, receive, solicit, or accept a contribution, donation, or gift from a foreign national.

2.

No foreign national may direct, dictate, control, or directly or indirectly participate in the decision-making process of any person regarding the person’s activities to support or oppose a referendum or to influence a particular vote at a referendum.

3.

No foreign national may solicit, directly or indirectly, the making of a donation, contribution, or expenditure by another person to influence a referendum.

S ECTION 9.

16.14 of the statutes is created to read:

16.14 Contracts and uses of technology related to critical infrastructure.

(1) EFINITIONS.

In this section:

(a) “Critical infrastructure” means systems and assets, whether physical or - 2026 Legislature - 5 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj S ECTION 9 virtual or publicly or privately held, so vital to this state or to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating effect on state or national security, state or national economic security, state or national public health, or any combination of the foregoing.

“Critical infrastructure” includes all of the following:

GasThe andgovernment oilor production,an storage,official andof deliverythe systems.government of a foreign adversary.

WaterAn supply,individual refinement,who storage,is a citizen of a foreign adversary, is not a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and deliverydoes systems.not hold a valid, unexpired visa issued by the U.S.

Department of State that authorizes the individual to be legally present in this state.

TelecommunicationsA networks.business entity that is organized under the laws of a foreign adversary and that does not have its principal place of business in the United States.

ElectricalAn powerinvestment deliveryfund systems.that is owned or controlled by a foreign adversary or agent of a foreign adversary.

EmergencyAn services.entity that has 50 percent or more of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a person or combination of persons described in items 1 to 4.

TransportationAn systemsagent andof services.a person described in items 1 to 5.

(b)For “Entity”further meansinformation asee personthe otherstate thanfiscal estimate, which will be printed as an individual.appendix to this bill.

(c)The 1.people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

ExceptSECTION as1. provided under subd.

2.,196.95 “foreignof adversary”the meansstatutes anyis ofcreated theto following:read:

a.196.95 Critical telecommunications infrastructure requirements.

The(1) People’sDEFINITIONS Republic. of China, including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region.

b.In this section:

The(a) Republic“Critical telecommunications infrastructure” means physical telecommunications infrastructure and equipment that supports the transmission of Cuba.information, regardless of the transmission medium or technology employed, and that connects to a telecommunications network that permits the user to engage in the use of telecommunications service.

c.- 2026 Legislature - 3 - LRB-3258/1 KP:emw&cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 683 S ECTION 1 (b) “Entity” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other organization or enterprise.

The(c) Islamic“Foreign Republicadversary” ofmeans Iran.a person determined to be a foreign adversary under 15 CFR 791.4.

d.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

e.

The Russian Federation.

f.

The Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro.

2.

“Foreign adversary” does not include any country, government, regime, or person specified under subd.

1.

if the country, government, regime, or person is not - 2026 Legislature - 6 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 9 included in the list of foreign adversaries under 15 CFR 791.4, as amended from time to time.

AThe foreigngovernment adversary or an agentofficial of the government of a foreign adversary.

An individual who is a citizen of a countryforeign controlledadversary, byis not a foreignlawful adversary.permanent resident of the United States, and does not hold a valid, unexpired visa issued by the federal department of state that authorizes the individual to be legally present in this state.

A business entity that is organized under the laws of a countryforeign controlledadversary bythat adoes foreignnot adversaryhave andits whose principal place of business isin locatedthe withinUnited territoryStates. controlled by that foreign adversary.

An entity that has 50 percent or more of its stock, securities, or other indicia of ownership owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by a foreign adversary or other person or combination of persons described in subds.

An entity whose governance structure or internal monitoring or human resources decision-making is consistent with the objectives set forth in the Opinion on Strengthening the United Front Work of the Private Economy in the New Era issued on September 15, 2020, by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party or a successor or similar document issued by the Chinese Communist Party by an agent of the Chinese Communist Party.

7.

An entity that is controlled by the government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese military, or an instrumentality of any of the foregoing, including the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the National Council for Social Security Fund of the People’s Republic of China.

- 2026 Legislature - 7 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 9 8.

to 7.5.

(e) “State“Telecommunications agency”service” meanshas anthe association,meaning authority,given board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, system, office, society, or other body in states. government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law.

(2)182.017 PROHIBITED(1g) CONTRACTS(cq). AND USES OF TECHNOLOGY .

(a) Except as provided under par.

(b), no state agency may do any of the following:

1.

Enter into a contract with a foreign principal that allows the foreign principal to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state.

2.

Put into use in critical infrastructure any network-connected information and communication technology that allows a foreign principal to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state and that appears on the list maintained by the department under sub.

(3) (b).

(b) If a state agency is unable to source an alternative to a technology or entity on the list under sub.

(3) (b), the state agency shall certify to the department each contract or use of a technology described in par.

(a) 1.

or 2.

related to critical infrastructure within this state.

(3) D EPARTMENT DUTIES .

The department shall do all of the following:

(a) Review contracts and uses of technology for approval under sub.

(2) (b) and s.

134.13 (2) (b).

(b) Establish and maintain a list of network-connected information and communication technologies and entities prohibited under sub.

(2) (a) and s.

134.13 (2) (a).

The department shall include on the list under this paragraph all entries on - 2026 Legislature - 8 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 9 the list under section 1260H of P.L.

116-283, the entity list published by the bureau of industry and security of the U.S.

department of commerce as described in 15 CFR 744.16, and the covered list published by the federal communications commission’s public safety and homeland security bureau as described in 47 CFR 1.50002.

If the department adds any new network-connected information and communication technology or entity to the list under this paragraph, the department shall establish the effective date upon which use of the new network-connected information and communication technology is prohibited, and, upon such effective date, no use of the new network-connected information and communication technology may be put into service for critical infrastructure.

The effective date may not be more than 90 days after the date the department adds the network- connected information and communication technology to the list.

S ECTION 10.

134.13 of the statutes is created to read:

134.13 Critical infrastructure regulation.

(1) D EFINITION.

In this section:

(a) “Covered entity” means an entity other than a state agency that constructs, repairs, operates, or otherwise has significant access to critical infrastructure.

(b) “Critical infrastructure” has the meaning given in s.

16.14 (1) (a).

(c) “Department” means the department of administration.

(d) “Entity” has the meaning given in s.

16.14 (1) (b).

(e) “Foreign principal” has the meaning given in s.

16.14 (1) (d).

(f) “Public utility” has the meaning given in s.

196.01 (5).

- 2026 Legislature - 9 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj S ECTION 10 (g) “State agency” has the meaning given in s.

16.14 (1) (e).

(2) PROHIBITED CONTRACTS AND USES OF TECHNOLOGY .

(a) Except as provided under par.

(b), no covered entity may do any of the following:

1.

Knowingly enter into a contract with a foreign principal that allows the foreign principal to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state.

2.

Knowingly put into use in critical infrastructure any network-connected information and communication technology that allows a foreign principal to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state and that appears on the list maintained by the department under s.

16.14 (3) (b).

(b) 1.

Except as provided in subd.

2., if a covered entity is unable to source an alternative to a technology or entity on the list maintained by the department under s.

16.14 (3) (b), the covered entity shall certify to the department each contract or use of a technology described in par.

(a) 1.

or 2.

related to critical infrastructure within this state.

2.

For a covered entity that is a public utility, if the covered entity is unable to source an alternative to a technology or entity on the list maintained by the department under s.

16.14 (3) (b), the covered entity shall certify to the public service commission each contract or use of a technology described in par.

(a) 1.

or 2.

related to critical infrastructure within this state.

SECTION 11.

196.95 of the statutes is created to read:

196.95 Critical telecommunications infrastructure requirements.

(1) D EFINITION.

In this section:

(a) Critical telecommunications infrastructure” means any equipment located - 2026 Legislature - 10 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 11 in this state used in fixed and mobile networks that provides high-speed, switched, broadband telecommunications capability, provided the equipment includes or uses electronic components.

(b) “Federally banned equipment” means any equipment deemed to pose a threat to national security as identified on the Covered List published by the Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau as described in 47 CFR 1.50002.

(c) “Telecommunications provider” means a person that offers telecommunications service for a fee directly to the public or to such classes of users as to effectively be available to the public.

(c) “Telecommunications service” has the meaning given in 47 USC 153 (53).

(5)(3), (a)beginning 2., no critical telecommunications infrastructure constructed on or after the effective date of this subsection ....

[LRB inserts date], no provider of telecommunications service may containpurchase, federallyrent, bannedlease, obtain, or maintain critical telecommunications infrastructure that includes - 2026 Legislature - 4 - LRB-3258/1 KP:emw&cdc ASSEMBLY BILL 683 S ECTION 1 equipment (3)manufactured REMOVALby OFa EXISTINGforeign EQUIPMENTprincipal .or equipment that is prohibited by the federal government on the list published by the federal communications commission under 47 USC 1601.

A(3) telecommunicationsR providerEMOVAL that,OF onEXISTING theEQUIPMENT effective. date of this subsection ....

[LRBA insertsprovider date],of operates and uses federally banned equipment in critical telecommunications infrastructureservice shallwho, removeon the federallyeffective banneddate equipmentof fromthis thesubsection critical.... telecommunications infrastructure.

(4)[LRB PERMITinserts NOTdate], REQUIREDmaintains .critical telecommunications infrastructure that includes equipment manufactured by a foreign principal or equipment that is prohibited by the federal government on the list published by the federal communications commission under 47 USC 1601 shall remove that equipment from the critical telecommunications infrastructure in accordance with the federal program established under 47 USC 1601 et seq.

(a)(4) AC telecommunicationsERTIFICATION;REPORTING providerPROHIBITED thatEQUIPMENT removes,. discontinues, or replaces any federally banned equipment is not required to obtain any permit from any agency, as defined in s.

13.172(a) (1),Annually, orno alater city,than village,January town,15, oreach -provider 2026of Legislaturetelecommunications -service 11shall -certify LRBs0386/1to JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 11 county for the removal,commission discontinuance,whether or replacement of the federallyprovider bannedis equipmentin ifcompliance allwith of the followingrequirements apply:in subs.

(2) and (3).

(b) Except as provided in sub.

(3), a provider of telecommunications service who maintains critical telecommunications infrastructure that includes equipment manufactured by a foreign principal or equipment that is prohibited by the federal government on the list published by the federal communications commission under 47 USC 1601 shall provide to the public service commission all of the following:

The telecommunicationsgeographic providercoordinates notifiesof the commissionequipment or2. the appropriate agency, as defined in s.

13.172The (1),telecommunications orservice city,coverage village,area town,serviced orby county of the necessary removal, discontinuance, or replacement of the federally banned equipment.

2.

The replacement equipment is substantially similar to the existing federally banned equipment that is being replaced.

(b) If the removal, discontinuance, or replacement of federally banned equipment requires any work to be completed in a public right-of-way or any property controlled by an agency, as defined in s.

13.172 (1), or a city, village, town, or county, the telecommunications provider shall do all of the following:

1.

Satisfy the requirements described in par.

(a) 1.

and 2.

2.

Provide notice to the agency, as defined in s.

13.172 (1), or city, village, town, or county at least 7 days before beginning any work.

CoordinateA plan for replacing the equipment in accordance with the agency,federal asprogram definedestablished inunder s.47 USC 1601 et seq.

13.172- (1),2026 orLegislature city,- village,5 town,- orLRB-3258/1 countyKP:emw&cdc forASSEMBLY completionBILL of683 theS work.ECTION 1 (c) 1.

(5)The CERTIFICATION.commission shall use the information provided under par.

(a)(b) Annually,to noproduce latera thanmap Januaryof 15,this eachstate telecommunicationsshowing provider shall certify to the commissionlocations thatof all critical telecommunications infrastructure maintained by the telecommunicationsequipment providerdescribed satisfiesin onepar. of the following:

1.(b) and the telecommunications service coverage areas described in par.

The(b) criticaland telecommunicationsshall infrastructuremake doesthe notmap useavailable anyto federallythe bannedpublic. equipment.

TheAnnually, criticalno telecommunicationslater infrastructurethan usesFebruary federally15, bannedthe -commission 2026shall Legislatureprepare -a 12written -report LRBs0386/1containing JK/KP/MPG:wlj S ECTION 11 equipment and the telecommunicationsmap providerdescribed is a participant in thesubd. federal Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program established by 47 USC 1601 et seq.

and1. is in compliance with the program.

(b)and Followingsubmit the certificationreport to the governor and to the speaker of the assembly, the president of the senate, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under par.s.

(a), if a telecommunications provider uses federally banned equipment in critical telecommunications infrastructure, the telecommunications provider shall update its certification with the commission within 90 days of such federally banned equipment coming into use.

(6) R EPORTING.

(a) Except as provided in par.

(b), a telecommunications provider that maintains critical telecommunications infrastructure that includes federally banned equipment shall report to the commission the information required in annual reports under 47 USC 1604.

(b) A telecommunications provider that has timely filed all reports required under 47 USC 1604 is not required to provide information to the commission under par.

(a).

(c) The commission may not require a telecommunications provider that certifies that it is a participant in the federal Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program under 47 USC 1601 et seq to provide more information that what the telecommunications provider is required to provide the federal government under its participation in the federal program.

(d) A telecommunications provider that submits a report under par.

(a) may request confidential treatment of reported information under subch.

II of ch.

19 and may also request confidential treatment of reported information if disclosure may pose security risks to critical telecommunications infrastructure.

(e) Annually, no later than February 15, the commission shall prepare a - 2026 Legislature - 13 - LRBs0386/1 JK/KP/MPG:wlj SECTION 11 written report containing the information received under this subsection and submit the report to the governor and to the speaker of the assembly, the president of the senate, and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s.

(7) P ENALTIES.

(a) In this subsection, “agent” means an authorized person who acts on behalf of or at the direction of a telecommunications provider.

“Agent” does not include a director, officer or employee of a telecommunications provider.

(b) An officer of a telecommunications provider shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $2,500, an agent of a telecommunications provider shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $25,000 or an employee of a telecommunications provider shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense if the officer, agent or employee violates this section.

(c) A telecommunications provider shall be fined not less than $500 nor more than $25,000 for each violation under par.

(b) if the officer, agent or employee of the telecommunications provider acted under the direction or request of the telecommunications provider or any general officer of the telecommunications provider.

S ECTION 12.

Initial applicability.

(1) PROHIBITED CONTRACTS AND USES OF TECHNOLOGY .

The treatment of ss.

16.14 and 134.13 first applies to a contract that is executed or a network-connected information and communication technology that is put into use on the effective date of this subsection.