October 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Ratcliff, Sinicki, Ortiz-Velez, Conley, J. Anderson, Emerson, Snodgrass, Subeck, Baldeh, Bare, Shelton, Cabrera, Considine, Palmeri, Stubbs, C. Anderson, Joers and Shankland, cosponsored by Senators Larson, Spreitzer, Taylor, Roys, L. Johnson and Hesselbein. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
AB599,,22An Act to renumber 11.1208 (4); and to create 11.1208 (4) (b) of the statutes; relating to: expressly prohibiting a foreign national from making a contribution to a referendum committee. AB599,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Current law provides that no person may make or accept a contribution, make a disbursement, make an expenditure, or incur an obligation in violation of the federal law that prohibits a foreign national from making a contribution in connection with any federal, state, or local election. This bill provides, in addition, that no foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national. A recent decision by the Federal Elections Commission allowed a foreign national to make a contribution to a ballot initiative committee because the FEC determined that a ballot initiative is not an “election” for purposes of the federal law prohibiting contributions from foreign nationals.
AB599,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB599,15Section 1. 11.1208 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 11.1208 (4) (a). AB599,26Section 2. 11.1208 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read: AB599,,7711.1208 (4) (b) No foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national. In this paragraph, “foreign national” has the meaning given in 11 CFR 110.20 (a) (3) and 52 USC 30121 (b).
