The bill aims to strengthen the prohibition against foreign influence in elections by explicitly including statewide ballot issues in the existing legal framework. It amends Section 13-37-502 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify that foreign nationals are prohibited from interfering not only in candidate elections but also in statewide initiatives, as defined in 13-27-110. This addition ensures that any disbursement for electioneering communications, contributions, or expenditures related to these initiatives is also covered under the prohibition.

Additionally, the bill maintains the existing provisions that make it unlawful for individuals to solicit, accept, or receive contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals. It also stipulates that if a potential violation of this section overlaps with federal laws, such as 52 U.S.C. 30121 or 11 CFR 110.20, the investigation and enforcement must be referred to the Federal Election Commission, preventing local authorities from taking action on those specific violations.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 13-37-502