Holland Reporter

Matt Hall, State Representative of Michigan, announced new House legislation aimed at bolstering protections against foreign influence and safeguarding state universities and infrastructure. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Three University of Michigan researchers—Chinese nationals with CCP ties—were arrested for smuggling a deadly bioterror fungus into our country through Detroit Metro Airport," said Hall, State Representative from Michigan. "This is more than a federal problem: Michigan's universities are on the front lines of foreign threats, and our state can't afford to look the other way. Michigan House Republicans passed the strongest foreign influence prevention plan in the nation to protect our campuses, our economy, our infrastructure, and our people. I encourage my Senate colleagues to join us in advancing real foreign influence protections for Michigan."

In June 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Chengxuan Han, a Chinese Ph.D. student associated with the University of Michigan, for allegedly smuggling biological materials. This arrest marked the third such incident at the university in recent weeks, prompting state lawmakers to advocate for stricter oversight on foreign influence. The Highland County Press reported that this case is part of a broader federal initiative to enhance research security and control foreign access at Michigan universities.

The Washington Post highlighted that since late 2024, at least three Chinese nationals linked to the University of Michigan have been detained for attempting to smuggle biological materials. One case involved Fusarium graminearum, a toxic fungus identified by federal officials as a potential agroterrorism threat, which led to a security alert across Michigan campuses.

According to the Michigan House GOP, the legislature passed the "Foreign Influence of State Institutions of Higher Education Act" (HB 4239) in May 2025. This act mandates universities to disclose all foreign gifts and prohibits agreements that compromise university autonomy. It mirrors new "baby FARA" laws enacted in states like Arkansas and Nebraska.

The official Michigan House site notes that Hall is the Republican Majority Floor Leader representing the 42nd District since 2015 and chairs the Oversight Subcommittee on Homeland Security. He has been an advocate for measures addressing foreign influence and campus security, including supporting HB 4239 in response to recent incidents at universities.