The bill, known as Senate Bill No. 552, aims to enhance public safety by regulating the use of biotechnology within state agencies. It introduces a new section to the Oklahoma Statutes that defines key terms related to biotechnology, specifically identifying a "biotechnology company of concern" as an entity under the control of a foreign adversary that poses a national security risk due to its research involving multiomic data collection. Multiomics is defined as a method of biological analysis that integrates data from various research fields to understand complex biological processes.
Under this legislation, any state agency that receives federal or state funds is prohibited from using or procuring biotechnology equipment or services from companies designated as biotechnology companies of concern. Additionally, these agencies are not allowed to contract with entities that utilize such biotechnology. The bill stipulates that it will take effect only upon the enactment of a federal law that similarly restricts the use of biotechnology from companies associated with foreign adversaries.