Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter have endorsed House Bill 363, which aims to restrict foreign influence on Alabama and U.S. politics. The bill, sponsored by Rep. James Lomax, would prohibit foreign nationals or groups from contributing to campaigns, ballot measures, political parties, or political action committees. This legislation seeks to close loopholes that allow foreign funding to influence American politics, despite federal laws already in place.
Allen and Ledbetter both emphasize the importance of fair, transparent, and secure elections for Alabamians, free from foreign interference. Lomax, the sponsor of the bill, also stresses the importance of protecting ballot initiative elections from foreign influence to safeguard the integrity of Alabama elections. The bill defines foreign nationals and entities, prohibiting them from contributing funds unless they are solely from U.S. operations and have decisions made by U.S. citizens.
Currently, four states have passed similar legislation to crackdown on foreign funding in politics, with Ohio facing legal challenges in its implementation. HB363 is pending approval from the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, with a scheduled appearance on March 5. Any individual found violating the provisions of the bill would be guilty of a Class C Felony. The committee meetings are live-streamed on the Alabama Legislature’s website. This legislation highlights the efforts to protect the integrity of Alabama elections and uphold election integrity against foreign influence.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
