Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3535
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 11 - 0.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-08T17:35:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act" (H.R. 3535) aims to prevent foreign nationals from influencing U.S. democratic processes by extending existing bans on their financial contributions. Specifically, it closes a loophole in federal law that previously allowed foreign donations to ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections—direct voter-driven measures that appear on state or local ballots.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 319(a)(1)(A) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (a key federal law regulating campaign finance) by adding language that explicitly prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or donations "in connection with a State or local ballot initiative or referendum or recall election."
- Scope: This prohibition applies to any financial support (e.g., money or in-kind donations) aimed at influencing these voter-led processes, similar to how it already applies to candidate elections.
- Effective Date: The changes take effect for all contributions and donations made on or after the date the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law, foreign nationals (non-U.S. citizens who are not permanent residents) are barred from donating to federal, state, or local candidate elections, but this restriction does not explicitly cover ballot initiatives, referenda (voter-approved policy changes), or recall elections (efforts to remove elected officials mid-term).
- The bill eliminates this gap, ensuring uniform treatment across all election-related activities, including non-candidate ballot measures that can shape laws on issues like taxes, environment, or social policies.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Federal Election Commission (FEC), which enforces campaign finance rules, will need to update its guidelines, investigations, and enforcement to monitor and penalize foreign involvement in ballot measures, potentially increasing administrative workload.
- On Citizens: U.S. voters and advocacy groups pushing ballot initiatives may face stricter funding rules, promoting reliance on domestic sources and reducing risks of foreign-driven misinformation or influence in local policy decisions.
- On International Relations: Foreign governments, corporations, or individuals could find it harder to indirectly sway U.S. public policy through ballot funding, which might improve perceptions of U.S. election integrity abroad but could lead to diplomatic tensions if viewed as overly restrictive.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Foreign Nationals and Entities: Directly restricted from providing financial support to U.S. ballot processes, including non-U.S. citizens, foreign corporations, and governments.
- U.S. Citizens and Advocacy Groups: Those organizing or supporting ballot initiatives, referenda, or recalls must ensure all funding is domestic, potentially limiting resources for grassroots campaigns.
- Election Officials and Campaigns: State and local administrators, as well as political action committees (PACs), will need to comply with enhanced reporting and verification to avoid violations.
- Federal Regulators: Primarily the FEC, which gains broader oversight responsibilities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Strengthens enforcement of campaign finance transparency by aligning ballot measures with existing election rules, potentially leading to more lawsuits over what constitutes a "contribution in connection with" these processes (e.g., ads or lobbying tied to foreign funds).
- Constitutional Implications: Builds on Supreme Court precedents like Bluman v. FEC (2012), which upheld bans on foreign election spending as compatible with free speech rights under the First Amendment, since they target non-citizens rather than U.S. voters. However, it could face challenges if seen as overbroadly limiting political expression.
- Political Implications: Enhances protections against foreign interference in direct democracy, a growing concern in U.S. politics, but may spark debates over federal overreach into state ballot processes, influencing future legislation on election security.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 11 - 0.
- 2026-05-14: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-05-21: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
- 2025-05-21: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act — issued 2025-05-21 — PDF (2 pages)