elections; foreign contributions prohibited

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the ban applies to 'foreign nongovernmental sources' in addition to corporations and persons, which is reflected in the summary.

SB1647: Prohibits Foreign Contributions for Ballot Measures

This law stops foreign corporations, people, and non-government groups from giving money or goods to influence Arizona ballot measures.

What This Bill Does

• Prohibits foreign corporations and individuals from donating cash or services to affect the result of a ballot measure election.
• Stops any person, group, or committee from accepting or using donations that come from foreign sources for these elections.
• Requires groups that file campaign finance reports to sign a statement under penalty of perjury confirming they did not take such money.
• Exempts federally recognized sovereign tribal nations from this ban on contributions.

Who It Names or Affects

• Foreign corporations and individuals
• Political committees, entities, or persons that file campaign finance reports in Arizona

Terms To Know

Ballot measure

A question, issue, initiative, referendum, or proposition placed on an election ballot for voters to decide.

In-kind goods or services

Donations of items or work instead of cash money.

Penalty of perjury

A legal warning that lying on a sworn document can lead to criminal charges for giving false testimony.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill text does not specify the exact calendar date it becomes effective, only stating it follows the general effective date.
• The source material mentions certification under penalty of perjury but does not list specific fines or other penalties for breaking this law.

Official Summary Text

SB1647 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1647

elections; foreign contributions prohibited

Purpose

Prohibits foreign corporations, persons and nongovernmental sources from
contributing monies or in-kind goods or services to influence the outcome of an
election on a ballot measure.

Background

Candidate committees, political action committees and political parties
must file campaign finance reports that set forth: 1) the amount of cash on
hand at the beginning of the reporting period; 2) total receipts during the
reporting period; 3) an itemized list of disbursements exceeding $250 during
the reporting period; 4) the total sum of receipts and disbursements for the
reporting period; and 5) a certification by the committee treasurer that the
contents of the report are true and correct, issued under penalty of perjury.
The itemized list of disbursements must include expenditures to advocate for
the passage or defeat of a ballot measure. Entities that make ballot measure
expenditures exceeding $1,000 during a reporting period must file an expenditure
report with the filing officer and must identify the candidate or ballot
measure supported or opposed (
A.R.S.
� 16-926
).

Federal law states that it is unlawful for a foreign national to make
contributions or donations in connection with a federal, state or local
election, a political action committee or for electioneering communications. It
is likewise unlawful for a person to accept or solicit such contributions or
donations from foreign nationals (
52
U.S.C. � 30121
).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact
to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1.

Prohibits
a foreign corporation or person from giving monies or in-kind goods or services
to influence the outcome of an election on a ballot measure, question, issue or
proposition, including an initiative or referendum.

2.

Prohibits
a person, entity or committee from accepting or using monies or in-kind goods
or services contributed by a foreign corporation, person or foreign
nongovernmental source.

3.

Requires
persons, entities or committees that are required to file campaign finance
reports to certify in such reports, under penalty of perjury, that the person,
entity or committee has not accepted or used monies or in-kind goods or
services from a foreign entity as prescribed.

4.

Exempts
federally recognized sovereign tribal nations from this prohibition.

5.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by Senate Research

February 12, 2026

ZD/ci

Current Bill Text

SB1647 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

elections; foreign
contributions prohibited

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1647

AN
ACT

amending title 16, chapter 6, article
1.2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 16-919; relating to
campaign contributions.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 16, chapter 6, article 1.2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 16-919, to read:

START_STATUTE
16-919.

Foreign contributions prohibited; ballot measures; certification

A. A foreign corporation or person
shall not give and a person, entity or committee shall not accept or use monies
or in-kind goods or services that are contributed by a foreign
corporation or person or a foreign nongovernmental source to influence the
outcome of an election on a ballot measure, question, issue or proposition,
including an initiative or referendum.

B. A person, entity or committee that
is required to file campaign finance reports pursuant to section 16-926
shall certify under penalty of perjury in those reports that the person, entity
or committee has not accepted or used monies or in-kind goods or services
in violation of subsection a of this section.

C. Federally recognized sovereign
tribal nations are exempt from this section.
END_STATUTE