Purpose of the Bill

The bill seeks to amend Minnesota's campaign finance laws to prevent foreign nationals from influencing state ballot questions. It establishes rules to ensure that contributions and expenditures related to Minnesota ballot questions are not funded by foreign entities.

Main Provisions

1. Definition of Foreign Nationals: The bill defines a "foreign national" as any non-U.S. citizen or entity primarily based outside the U.S., including foreign governments, political parties, and any organization substantially owned by foreign nationals. It clarifies that expenditures must originate from U.S.-based operations and decisions made by U.S. citizens or permanent residents to not be considered foreign.

2. Prohibition on Contributions: Foreign nationals are banned from directly or indirectly making donations or expenditures to support or oppose a ballot question. They are also prohibited from influencing others to make such contributions.

3. Ballot Question Political Committees: Upon registering, these committees must certify that they have not been funded by foreign nationals in preliminary activities. They are required to affirm that they do not knowingly accept contributions involving foreign funding.

4. Donor Affirmation: When donations are received, committee treasurers must obtain a confirmation from donors that they are not foreign nationals and haven't received significant foreign funding in the past four years.

5. Record Keeping: Committees and individuals making independent expenditures must maintain records of their financial activities involving ballot questions for six years.

6. Independent Expenditures: Entities making independent expenditures must report within 48 hours of the expenditure, confirming they have not recently accepted substantial foreign funds.

7. Presumption of Violation: Accepting significant foreign funds within four years prior to a contribution creates a presumption of unlawful foreign influence, which could indicate a violation of the new rules.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill adds specific prohibitions against foreign nationals contributing to Minnesota's ballot questions, creating new compliance and reporting requirements for political committees.
• Introduces record-keeping and affirmation procedures to ensure that contributions and expenditures in relation to ballot questions are free from foreign influence.

Relevant Terms

foreign national, ballot question, campaign finance, independent expenditure, certification, political committee, contribution, expenditure, United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, foreign funds.