{"id":2457932,"date":"2025-07-10T11:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missouri-bans-foreign-nationals-from-funding-ballot-initiatives\/"},"modified":"2025-07-10T11:41:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T15:41:53","slug":"missouri-bans-foreign-nationals-from-funding-ballot-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/missouri-bans-foreign-nationals-from-funding-ballot-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Missouri Bans Foreign Nationals From Funding Ballot Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmissouri-bans-foreign-nationals-from-funding-ballot-initiatives%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2457932&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a bill aimed at preventing foreign nationals from financially influencing ballot measures in the state.While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/leftist-groups-working-to-kill-wis-citizen-only-voting-amendment\/\" title=\"Leftist ... Working To Kill WI&#039;s Citizen-Only Voting Amendment\">federal law prohibits foreign nationals<\/a> from donating to candidates and political action committees,it does not clearly restrict their involvement in ballot issue campaigns,which focus on legislation rather than individual candidates. Missouri&#8217;s Senate Bill 152 closes this loophole by banning foreign nationals from participating in decision-making related to influencing ballot measures and setting stringent contribution limits and verification requirements for donor committees.The Missouri Attorney General&#8217;s Office will also gain authority to investigate violations.<\/p>\n<p>This <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >legislation joins similar recent laws passed<\/a> in states like Wyoming, Kansas, Arkansas, and others, addressing concerns that foreign money has been funneled into U.S. ballot measure campaigns-most notably through groups like the Sixteen Thirty Fund, financed by Swiss billionaire Hansj\u00f6rg Wyss. Wyss-backed organizations have spent millions on ballot measures across several states, including $13 million in Missouri during the 2024 election cycle. Critics warn that without such laws, foreign nationals and adversaries might continue to influence U.S. legislation through ballot initiatives. Missouri&#8217;s bill is set to take effect in August 2025.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe <a href=\"https:\/\/governor.mo.gov\/press-releases\/archive\/governor-kehoe-signs-legislation-protecting-missouris-most-vulnerable\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signed<\/a> a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.mo.gov\/25info\/BTS_Web\/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=330\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bill<\/a> Wednesday that will help keep &ldquo;foreign national[s]&rdquo; from financially supporting and influencing ballot measures in the state.<\/p>\n<p>Despite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fec.gov\/help-candidates-and-committees\/foreign-nationals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">federal law<\/a> not allowing foreign nationals to donate to individual candidates and political action committees, ballot issue campaigns are not <a href=\"https:\/\/afj.org\/article\/ballot-measure-advocacy-for-public-charities-key-laws-and-activities-to-consider-in-2025-and-beyond\/#:~:text=Supporting%20or%20opposing%20a%20ballot,to%20target%20their%20voter%20outreach.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">legally<\/a> seen as elections since they focus on legislation, not individual candidates running for office. Foreign nationals <a href=\"https:\/\/news.ballotpedia.org\/2025\/04\/11\/kansas-kentucky-and-wyoming-join-nine-other-states-in-restricting-foreign-contributions-to-ballot-measure-campaigns\/#:~:text=In%202012%2C%20the%20U.S.%20Supreme,business%20in%20a%20foreign%20country.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">can use ballot measures<\/a> to finance committees that determine constitutional amendments that are on voter ballots.<\/p>\n<p>Missouri&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.mo.gov\/25info\/BTS_Web\/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=330\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SB152<\/a> specifically bans foreign nationals from &ldquo;participating in the decision-making process of any person with regard to that person&rsquo;s activities to influence a ballot measure,&rdquo; directly or indirectly.<\/p>\n<p>The bill states that for every contribution over $2,000, donor committees must ensure an individual donor is not a &ldquo;foreign national&rdquo; or has not &ldquo;willingly accepted funds&rdquo; of over $10,000 from foreign nationals within two years &ldquo;immediately preceding the date the contribution is made.&rdquo; In the case of &ldquo;entities&rdquo; such as committees, they must not accept funds over $10,000 in the next four years. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Missouri Attorney General&rsquo;s Office will have a process for civil investigation of violations in this provision&rdquo; with the bill requiring &ldquo;more accountability to the campaign treasurer to receive affirmation&rdquo; that money did not come from foreign nationals, a representative from Kehoe&rsquo;s office told The Federalist.<\/p>\n<p>This loophole is now <a href=\"https:\/\/americansforpublictrust.org\/stop-foreign-funding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">banned<\/a> in Missouri, Wyoming, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Eight of these states passed legislation on the issue this year.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Swiss billionaire Hansj&ouml;rg Wyss has funneled nearly $300 million through the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a dark money group that has spent $130 million on ballot measures in 26 states,&rdquo; Executive Director of Honest Elections Projection Action&nbsp;Jason Snead said.<\/p>\n<p>Missouri itself received $13 million <a href=\"https:\/\/americansforpublictrust.org\/reports\/sixteen-thirty-fund-cumulative-spending-on-ballot-issue-campaigns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">from<\/a> the Sixteen Thirty Fund, &ldquo;more than any other state,&rdquo; Snead added.<\/p>\n<p>Wyss is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.influencewatch.org\/person\/hansjorg-wyss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">known<\/a> for supporting liberal political groups through the Wyss Foundation. He &ldquo;has quietly become one of the most important donors to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republican-ags-battle-woke-law-enforcement\/\" title=\"Republican AGs Battle \u2018Woke\u2019 Law Enforcement\">left-leaning advocacy groups<\/a> and an increasingly influential force among Democrats,&rdquo; The New York Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/05\/03\/us\/politics\/hansjorg-wyss-money-democrats.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said <\/a>in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The issue over foreign funding toward ballot measures started with Ohio&rsquo;s 2024 election when the Wyss-backed Sixteen Thirty poured $11 million to a &ldquo;2023 Ohio pro-abortion ballot initiative,&rdquo; The Federalist&rsquo;s Shawn Fleetwood <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/02\/25\/bills-keeping-foreign-money-out-of-ballot-measure-campaigns-pick-up-steam-in-republican-states\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During Missouri&rsquo;s 2024 election, the conservative state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kansascity.com\/news\/politics-government\/election\/article294503274.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">overturned<\/a> their previous abortion ban, legalizing abortion up to the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/10\/14\/missouri-ballot-question-seeks-to-make-taxpayers-fund-abortion-until-birth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vague &ldquo;fetal viability&rdquo; line<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The campaign behind Missouri&rsquo;s pro-abortion ballot measure, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, raised $31 million by Oct of 2024. $9 million of that was raised by &ldquo;out-of-state groups that&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/missouriindependent.com\/2024\/09\/13\/missouri-abortion-rights-campaign-doubles-fundraising-fairness-project\/\">aren&rsquo;t required to disclose their donors<\/a>,&rdquo; the Missouri Independent <a href=\"https:\/\/missouriindependent.com\/2024\/10\/29\/missouri-abortion-amendment-3-fundraising-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The issue is larger than Wyss and the Sixteen Thirty Fund taking advantage of this loophole,&rdquo; Caitlin Sutherland, Executive Director for Americans for Public Trust, told The Federalist.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;There is nothing stopping other foreign nationals and foreign adversaries from contributing to ballot measures in states that haven&rsquo;t passed legislation banning foreign money,&rdquo; she said. <\/p>\n<p>The Missouri bill will go into effect in August.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Abigail Nichols is a correspondent for The Federalist. She was previously the opinion editor for the University of South Florida&#8217;s student newspaper, The Oracle. She is now working as the business manager at the University of North Florida&#8217;s student-run media outlet, Spinnaker Media, while obtaining a Master&#8217;s Degree in Social work.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Missouri bans foreign nationals from funding ballot measures<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3849,"featured_media":2457933,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386371-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[40230,32642,8584],"class_list":["post-2457932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-ballot-initiatives","tag-foreign-nationals","tag-missouri"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/pexels-karolina-grabowska-4386371-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3849"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2457932"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2457936,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2457932\/revisions\/2457936"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2457933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2457932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2457932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2457932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}