Opponent Testimony on HB 291 — Eden Truax, Student at Ohio University

Summary

Opponent testimony on HB 291 to the House Development Committee from Eden Truax, a student at Ohio University, dated 6/16/2025. Truax writes of worry that the close ties HB 291 creates between Ohio and Israel could affect Ohioans' cybersecurity and encourage military aligned technology partnerships with a foreign government. The testimony also objects to the lack of restrictions or oversight on funding of the commission, saying the bill's language on gifts, grants and donations from public or private sources is vague. It asks the committee to vote no on HB 291.

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“Opponent Testimony on HB 291 — Eden Truax, Student at Ohio University.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-06-18-development-testimony-testimony-10453-bbf0c3f7a0/, SHA-256 f0871f66522069864cfdc202dbb37adffd5f3e83b3a51e3edf8ba9c4dd118e62.

Full text

                                  Opponent Testimony for HB 291
                                  House Development Committee
                                           6/16/2025

                              Eden Truax, Student at Ohio University


Thank you for reading my testimony. My name is Eden Truax. I am student at Ohio University
majoring in Mathematics, and I hope to be a math teacher one day.

       I am currently working in a STEM outreach internship where I work alongside engineers
and other STEM majors encouraging kids to be the next technological innovators. While I see the
importance of sharing information and working alongside peers in the development of technology,
I am worried how the close ties HB 291 creates between Ohio and particularly Israel could
negatively effect Ohioans’ cybersecurity as well as encouraging military aligned technology
partnerships with a foreign government.

        HB 291 encourages giving Israel access to Ohio research infrastructure relating to the
development electronic and cyber warfare capabilities. I cannot express how distressing this is to
hear, that we would put ourselves in such a vulnerable position with a foreign entity. An entity
which was flagged as a top espionage threat by the NSA in 2007
(https://www.newsweek.com/israel-flagged-top-spy-threat-us-new-snowdennsa-document-2629
91?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Israel most certainly has the capabilities to target U.S. interests
covertly and we cannot take up ties with them when our data, and infrastructure is on the line.

        Additionally, I am concerned of the lack of restrictions or oversight on the funding of this
commission. The bill states that the commission “May solicit and accept gifts, grants, donations, or
other funds from public or private sources.” This language is vague and allows corporations,
foreign governments, and private donors to fund the commission, with no restrictions on military
or political involvement, and no disclosure requirements. This is concerning because of the
potential for corporate interests to take over the mission of the commission. I want to know how
my government is funding cyber warfare initiatives and the risks that may pose to me and my data.

        It terrifies me what this bill could mean for Ohioans’ surveillance and cybersecurity. There
is too much wrong with this bill and too much at risk for Ohio. This bill risks more than money, it
risks its data, infrastructure, and democratic integrity. I urge you to do your job to protect Ohio. I
ask that you please consider my testimony and vote no on HB 291.

       Best,

       Eden Truax

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