House approves bill to ban foreign funding for ballot measures; sponsor calls it preventive

Representative Spell introduced House Bill 590, aimed at prohibiting foreign governments, foreign entities and noncitizens from donating funds, goods or services to support or oppose ballot propositions, candidates, or parties and from funding election administration.

"This bill explicitly prohibits foreign entities from attempting to control or influence the outcome of measures on the ballot," Representative Spell said. He described HB 590 as a statutory companion to prior legislation and to Senate measures and said the bill closes a federal-law gap that, in his view, left ballot measures open to foreign money in other states.

Members questioned scope and enforcement. Representative Willard asked whether the bill would treat donated volunteer time the same as an in-kind service; Spell said the measure targets "services offered as an in-kind donation at a certain level of heftiness," and that routine volunteer activity was not the intent. Spell cited election-code language identifying "foreign" as defined in La. R.S. 18:1505.2 and said the bill builds on Act 200 of the 2023 Regular Session and on SB 109 (current Senate companion).

Representative Marcel and Representative Mandy Landry asked whether the bill applies to private companies that are domestic but provide goods or services; Spell said the provision on election administration was meant to cover both foreign and domestic nongovernmental sources when they donate to the conduct of an election.

Representative Doctor Carpenter and others sought clarity about whether a noncitizen who volunteers at a campaign table or hands out literature would be banned; Spell and other members said they did not believe ordinary volunteering would be precluded but that the sponsor would work on an amendment to clarify volunteer exemptions.

The House adopted technical amendments, accepted legislative bureau edits and then approved HB 590 on final passage, 87 yeas to 7 nays. The bill's sponsor described it as preventive legislation in light of reported large sums used by foreign entities in other states to influence ballot measures.

Discussion vs. decision: The floor discussion centered on definitional scope (what counts as a "service" or a "foreign entity") and implementation questions (who enforces and how donations are traced). The formal decision was final passage of HB 590.

What happens next: HB 590 will move on under the legislative process; supporters said they will work on clarifying amendments to ensure volunteer activity is not unintentionally prohibited.