On July 13, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation banning foreign nationals from contributing to state or local ballot measure campaigns.

Federal law prohibits federal, state, and local candidates from soliciting, directing, or receiving contributions from individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The law also bans contributions from foreign governments, political parties, corporations, organizations, or groups whose principal place of business is in a foreign country.

Federal courts, however, have established that the ban does not apply to issue advocacy, such as lobbying or spending in ballot measure campaigns. The Federal Election Commission has affirmed that under current federal law foreign individuals, corporations, and governments may contribute to ballot measure campaigns.

The bill, H.R. 3535, explicitly extends the prohibition on foreign national donations in state and local elections to include ballot measures, referenda, and recall elections.

U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R), Jared Golden (D), and Susie Lee (D) sponsored the legislation. The bill passed the U.S. House unanimously by a voice vote and now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.

“The ballot is the instrument by which a free people govern themselves,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “No foreign government, foreign national, or foreign interest should have a hand in deciding the laws Americans live under. Today’s unanimous vote is an important step in our broader bipartisan work to protect the integrity of our elections, preserve the sovereignty of the American voter, and strengthen public faith in self-government.”

While federal law currently allows foreign nationals to donate to ballot measure campaigns, some states have enacted their own prohibitions.

Twenty-five states have enacted laws banning foreign nationals or governments from contributing to ballot measure campaigns. Seven states have enacted bans on direct contributions, while 18 states have banned direct and indirect contributions from foreign individuals or entities.

Thirty states have also enacted state-level prohibitions on foreign national donations to candidates, while two states, New Jersey and New York, have prohibitions on foreign nationals making independent expenditures. 

In 2026, four states — Alabama, Iowa, Nebraska, and New Hampshire — have enacted or expanded a prohibition on foreign national donations to ballot measure campaigns.

Arizona lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment to ban foreign contributions for candidate and ballot measure elections. The amendment will be presented to voters in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.