Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Bill to Bar Foreign Money From Ballot Measures Draws Lengthy Debate Over Scope and Enforcement
Summary
SB534 would ban foreign nationals from funding ballot questions and constitutional amendments; sponsors and conservative groups said the bill closes a loophole, while some legal and policy witnesses urged clarifying language around definitions and applicability to local warrant articles.
Senator Kevin Abard introduced SB534, saying the bill aims to close a perceived gap in New Hampshire law that allows foreign‑sourced funds to influence ballot measures and constitutional amendments. Abard said the measure would ‘‘make it clear no foreign money in local ballot questions or constitutional amendments’’ and emphasized he was open to technical fixes.
Co‑sponsors and supporters argued the bill mirrors protections already in place for candidate elections and would require committees proposing measures to certify they are free from foreign influence. Representative Jim Kofalt, a co‑sponsor, told the committee that…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
