Wyoming is 10th State to ban foreign contributions to ballot measures

On March 6, Gov. Mark Gordon (R) signed House Bill 0337 (HB 337) into law, banning foreign nationals from donating directly or indirectly to ballot measure committees. As a result, Wyoming became the 10th state to enact restrictions on foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns. Most Republicans and Democrats in the Wyoming Legislature supported HB 337. Only Reps. Bob Nicholas (R) and Liz Storer (D) voted against the bill.
The Wyoming bill uses the same definition of foreign national as 52 U.S.C. § 30121(b), which is part of a federal law that bans foreign nationals from contributing in elections. The definition includes foreign governments, political parties, corporations, associations, and individuals. This definition excludes non-citizen U.S. nationals, such as people born in unincorporated territories like American Samoa. Most state bans on foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns follow this or a similar definition. However, some states, like Maine and South Dakota, prohibit foreign governments from making contributions, but not individuals.
HB 337 also prohibits indirect foreign donations to ballot measure committees. This means foreign nationals cannot provide funds to another committee, organization, person, or entity to contribute to a ballot measure committee.
As of March 7, Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is following 52 bills in 21 states related to foreign contributions and campaign finance. Missouri is considering the most bills—13—related to foreign contributions and campaign finance. Check the map below to see how many bills other states are considering.

Categories: Elections