So far, during the 2025 legislative sessions, four states—Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Wyoming—have enacted new laws restricting foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns. With these additions, 13 now have laws prohibiting foreign nationals, governments, or other entities from contributing to ballot measure committees. The 13 states with such laws are California, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming.

With four bills passed so far, 2025 marks the highest number of states enacting laws restricting foreign contributions in a single year. In previous years, no more than one state passed a similar law per year.

Legal Variations

While 13 states have laws restricting foreign contributions to ballot measure campaigns, the laws differ in several ways, including in how they define foreign nationals. Most states use a definition similar to federal law: persons who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, foreign governments and political parties, and entities organized under foreign laws or with a principal place of business in a foreign country.

Some states, like Maine and South Dakota, restrict only foreign governments or government-influenced entities and do not ban foreign individuals from contributing.

The laws also differ in whether they prohibit only direct foreign contributions or include indirect contributions as well. A direct contribution involves giving money straight to a ballot measure committee. An indirect contribution involves giving money to another group—such as a nonprofit—that then passes the funds on to a ballot measure committee.

Since Ohio passed House Bill 1 in 2024, the issue of indirect contributions has received more attention from supporters of foreign contribution restriction bills. Several Ohio Republicans, including Secretary of State Frank LaRose, said Hansjörg Wyss, a citizen of Switzerland who lives in Wyoming, is an example of a foreign national contributing to state ballot measure campaigns through an organization. Wyss has contributed to the D.C.-based Sixteen Thirty Fund, which contributed at least $22.2 million to 10 campaigns supporting or opposing ballot measures related to abortion, minimum wage and sick leave, ranked-choice voting (RCV), and redistricting in 2024.

Indiana House Bill 1467

Indiana House Bill 1467 (HB 1467) requires that ballot measure campaign treasurers obtain a statement from contributors stating that they are not foreign nationals and have not knowingly or willfully accepted over $50,000 in total contributions from prohibited sources within the past four years. Under HB 1467, a person making an independent expenditure over $5,000 related to a ballot measure must, within 48 hours, file a report certifying that they have not knowingly or willfully received, solicited, or accepted over $50,000 in contributions or expenditures from prohibited sources in the past four years and will not do so for the remainder of the calendar year. The bill defines foreign nationals based on 52 U.S.C. § 30121(b), which 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.

On April 3, all Democrats and Republicans in the Senate voted for the bill, excluding absent members. In the House, it passed with support from Republicans and 24 Democrats, while four Democrats voted against it. Gov. Mike Braun signed the legislation on April 10.

Kansas House Bill 2106

House Bill 2106 (HB 2106) requires ballot measure campaign finance reports to include a certification stating: (1) the committee has not knowingly accepted any contributions or expenditures—directly or indirectly—from a foreign national, and (2) each donor listed is not a foreign national and has not knowingly received more than $100,000 in contributions or expenditures from a foreign national within the four years before making their contribution or expenditure.

The bill defined foreign nationals as people who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; foreign governments; foreign political parties; entities organized under foreign laws; and U.S.-based entities that are wholly or majority-owned by foreign nationals, with exceptions.

In the Senate, HB 2106 received unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans on March 13. In the House, Republicans voted for the bill, and Democrats were divided 11-25 on Feb. 14.

• Gov. Laura Kelly allowed the bill to go into effect without her signature. She said, “I support stopping foreign influence in our elections so that Kansans can decide what’s best for Kansas. But this bill goes too far. I cannot sign a bill that takes away the ability of Kansans and Kansas businesses to support elections if they accept money from overseas for any purpose, not just those related to elections.”
• Rep. Pat Proctor (R-11), who voted for the bill, said, “I want to know every entity that is contributing to a campaign for or against a constitutional amendment. I want to be able to tell Kansans confidently, precisely that the organizations participating in our political process, the individuals participating in our political process, are not using money from foreign nationals to further their campaigns.”

Kentucky House Bill 45

House Bill 45 (HB 45) prohibits foreign nationals from directly or indirectly making contributions or expenditures related to a ballot measure, soliciting others to do so, or participating in or directing another person’s decision to support or oppose a ballot measure.

The bill defined foreign nationals similarly to Kansas HB 2106: people who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; foreign governments; foreign political parties; entities organized under foreign laws; and U.S.-based entities that are wholly or majority-owned by foreign nationals, with exceptions.

In the Senate, Republicans supported HB 45, while all Democrats opposed it on March 11. In the House, the bill passed on March 14 with Republican support, while Democrats were split—4 voted in favor and 12 voted against. Gov. Andy Beshear (D) signed the bill on March 24, 2025.

Wyoming House Bill 337

House Bill 337 (HB 337) prohibits foreign donations from being made indirectly to ballot measure committees. This means foreign nationals cannot provide funds to another committee, organization, or individual for the purpose of contributing to a ballot measure committee. It defines foreign nationals based on 52 U.S.C. § 30121(b).

In the Wyoming State Legislature, HB 337 received support from most legislative Republicans and Democrats. Two—Rep. Bob Nicholas (R-7) and Rep. Liz Storer (D-23)—voted against the bill. 

Legal Background

In 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed that, under the Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA), foreign nationals were prohibited from making contributions to candidates. However, FECA “does not bar foreign nationals from issue advocacy,” according to the affirmed ruling. Campaign finance rules for ballot measures differ from those for candidate elections. “Referenda are held on issues, not candidates for public office,” wrote the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978 (First National Bank of Boston v. Bellotti). The court has held that spending on ballot measure campaigns is similar to issue advocacy, such as lobbying, in the lawmaking process.

The Federal Election Commission, following the court’s orders, has held that ballot measure campaigns are not regulated under FECA. According to the FEC, since ballot measure campaigns are similar to issue advocacy, foreign individuals, corporations, and governments can contribute to them.

As of April 11, Ballotpedia’s Election Administration Legislation Tracker is following 68 bills related to foreign contributions and campaign finance.