Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens protections against foreign funding in state and local ballot measures and gives officials clearer authority to block foreign-linked contributions, but it imposes screening costs on small campaigns and restricts political participation by lawful noncitizen residents.
Voters and the public: ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall campaigns will be less likely to be influenced by foreign money, helping protect the integrity of local democratic processes.
State and local officials/administrators: clearer legal authority to reject or return foreign-linked donations to initiative or recall campaigns, making enforcement and compliance more straightforward.
Lawful noncitizen residents (e.g., permanent residents and other immigrants): remain prohibited from contributing to ballot measures, limiting their ability to participate in direct-democracy processes.
Grassroots initiative and recall campaigns and local election offices: may incur additional administrative costs and burdens to screen and identify foreign-linked donations, raising barriers for small or volunteer-led efforts.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands the federal ban on foreign national contributions to also cover ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections for contributions made on or after enactment.
Official title: Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Brian K. Fitzpatrick · Last progress July 14, 2026
Expands the existing federal ban on foreign national contributions to cover contributions and donations "in connection with" citizen ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections. The change applies to contributions and donations made on or after enactment and makes clear that the prohibition on soliciting or accepting such funds extends to these direct democracy processes as well as Federal, State, and local candidate elections. The bill is narrowly focused and does not create new funding, deadlines, or agency programs; it only amends the statutory prohibition to explicitly include initiative, referendum, and recall measures under the foreign‑funding ban.