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Committee advances ban on foreign‑funded election administration with enforcement amendment
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Summary
The committee approved HB 2521 as amended to prohibit foreign government or foreign‑funded entities from providing money or in‑kind support for election administration and to require vendor certifications to the secretary of state, while adding civil enforcement provisions.
The House Committee on Federal and Military Affairs returned House Bill 2521 with a due‑pass recommendation after adopting an amendment that adds civil enforcement mechanisms and authorizes the attorney general to bring actions against knowing violators.
As amended, HB 2521 prohibits government entities from using money, in‑kind goods or services provided by a foreign government or foreign nonprofit to administer elections. Vendors and persons who provide such services would be required to certify their funding status to the Arizona Secretary of State; the amendment adds language allowing the attorney general, a qualified elector or a state official to bring a civil action to enforce the prohibition.
Michael Way, identified as the bill sponsor for Legislative District 15, told the committee HB 2521 is meant to "prevent foreign governments, foreign NGOs, foreign funded entities from financially influencing Arizona's elections or ballot initiatives," keeping administration and public‑policy decisions "in the hands of Arizonans," he said.
Jen Morrison of the Association of Counties supported the bill’s core aim but asked the committee to exempt so‑called "common goods" vendors (for example, office‑supply firms, truck rental or general vendors that supply non‑election‑specific goods) from the certification requirement. Morrison said election‑specific vendors are appropriate to certify, but broad suppliers that provide stationery or rental trucks should not carry the same compliance burden.
George Diaz of the Secretary of State's Office said implementing the certification system would require staff and an IT solution the office does not currently have. "We don't have the staff or the IT system to do that," Diaz told members, and he advised the committee that any tracking requirement would likely need an appropriation for a searchable system.
The committee adopted a three‑page amendment in Representative Culloden's name that inserted the civil enforcement language and then returned the bill with a due‑pass recommendation on a 4‑to‑3 vote. Members recorded four ayes and three nays on the roll call; the matter will proceed for further consideration according to House rules.
