The bill revises the existing prohibition on foreign influence in elections by explicitly extending the ban on foreign national interference to include statewide ballot issues. The amended language in Section 13-37-502 of the Montana Code Annotated now states that it is unlawful for a foreign national to make disbursements or contributions related not only to candidate elections but also to statewide ballot issues, as defined in the relevant statute.

Additionally, the bill maintains the prohibition against soliciting, accepting, or receiving contributions from foreign nationals and outlines the process for investigating potential violations. If a violation also breaches federal law, the matter must be referred to the Federal Election Commission, preventing local authorities from taking enforcement action in those cases. This amendment aims to strengthen the integrity of Montana's electoral process by closing loopholes that could allow foreign interference.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-37-502