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Secretary of State Wes Allen and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, both endorsed a bill on Monday seeking to restrict foreign influence on Alabama and U.S. politics.
House Bill 363, sponsored by state Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, would prohibit foreign nationals or groups from contributing to campaigns, ballot measures, political parties or political action committees.
Federal law currently prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly financial contributing made to any federal, state or local election or campaign.
A press release from Allen’s office said HB363 seeks to “close loopholes” which allow foreign funding to influence on U.S. politics, despite the federal law. This includes barring foreign entities from contributing funding to influence constitutional amendments, referendums and political action committees.
“Alabama’s hardworking men and women deserve to have their elections funded honestly, transparently, and without influence from foreign actors with America-last agendas,” Allen said.
“Alabamians deserve fair, secure, and transparent elections—period. During my time as a Legislator, I sponsored the ‘Zuckerbucks’ bill which prohibited third-party donations being used to fund election-related expenses,” Allen said. “Upon its passage, the Alabama elections process has been protected from inappropriate and unjustified third-party influence. This legislation similarly fortifies the integrity of our elections by eliminating loopholes that foreign actors could use to influence and manipulate elections.”
The Secretary of State’s press release said Ledbetter “champions HB363 as a common-sense measure of election integrity.”
“Foreign entities have zero business attempting to influence the decisions Alabamians make when casting their ballots,” said Ledbetter. “Alabama’s elections are among the most secure in the United States, and Rep. Lomax’s legislation is a commonsense measure to ensure that remains the case.”
Lomax said of HB363, “Elections directly impact the day to day lives of every Alabamian. Protecting ballot initiative elections from foreign influence should be of great importance to every Alabamian.”
“I am proud to advocate for legislation that promotes election integrity and safeguards Alabama elections against foreign influence,” Lomax continued.
HB363 defines foreign nationals as individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, as well as government subdivisions of another country or foreign political parties.
The bill also prohibits any collective entity “that is organized under the laws of, or has its principal place of business in a foreign country” from contributing funds unless they are solely from the entity’s U.S. operations and decisions concerning their distribution are made by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Currently, four states, Minnesota, Georgia, Maine and Ohio, have passed legislation attempting to crackdown on foreign funding in politics, beginning in 2023.
Last September, Ohio’s law attempting to limit foreign influence over politics, which would have also prohibited green card holders from making political contributions, was blocked by a federal judge before the Sixth Circuit Court allowed it to go into effect in October.
HB363 would make any individual found to have violated its provisions guilty of a Class C Felony.
HB363 is currently waiting for approval from the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee. The bill is set to appear before the committee March 5, at 10:30 a.m.
Committee meetings are live-streamed on the Alabama Legislature’s website.
