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MontanaHB 81869th Legislature, Regular Session (2025)House

Ban foreign funding for ballot measures

Sponsored By: Braxton Mitchell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Ballot IssuesElections

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

No foreign money in Montana elections

The law bans foreign nationals from giving or promising money in Montana elections. This covers ballot issues and candidate races. It includes ads, contributions, and other spending, even through another person. No one may ask for, take, or spend money they know came from a foreign national. Treasurers of ballot‑issue committees must get a written statement from each donor saying they are not a foreign national and keep it in their records. The law takes effect immediately.

Who counts as a foreign national

The law counts a U.S. company as a foreign national if a foreign national owns most or all of it. The company is not counted as foreign if it meets one of these tests: it employs people who pay Montana income tax and the company pays Montana property taxes; or all money used for politics comes from U.S. operations and only U.S. citizens or permanent residents make the spending decisions, except for overall budgets. These rules decide who may spend money in Montana elections.

How violations are enforced and punished

When a possible case also breaks federal election law, the state sends it to the Federal Election Commission. Montana officials do not bring cases on the parts that overlap federal law. Anyone who breaks the state’s foreign‑funding bans can be sued in civil court.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Braxton Mitchell

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 472 • No: 276

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 37 • No: 13

House vote • 4/30/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 56 • No: 44

House vote • 4/29/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 57 • No: 43

Senate vote • 4/29/2025

Do Adopt

Yes: 39 • No: 11

House vote • 4/17/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 54

Senate vote • 4/12/2025

Do Concur

Yes: 38 • No: 12

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

Do Concur As Amended

Yes: 36 • No: 14

Senate vote • 4/10/2025

AMD-HB0818.002.001 Cuffe D/PASS

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 3/7/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 57 • No: 42

House vote • 3/6/2025

Do Pass

Yes: 57 • No: 42

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter Number Assigned

    5/19/2025House

  2. Signed by Governor

    5/13/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Governor

    5/7/2025House

  4. Signed by President

    5/6/2025Senate

  5. Signed by Speaker

    5/5/2025House

  6. Returned from Enrolling

    5/2/2025House

  7. Sent to Enrolling

    4/30/2025House

  8. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/30/2025Senate

  9. 3rd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/30/2025House

  10. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/29/2025House

  11. 2nd Reading Conference Committee Report

    4/29/2025Senate

  12. Hearing

    4/26/2025House

  13. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/24/2025Senate

  14. Conference Committee Appointed

    4/22/2025House

  15. 2nd Reading Senate Amendments

    4/17/2025House

  16. Returned to House with Amendments

    4/12/2025Senate

  17. 3rd Reading

    4/12/2025Senate

  18. 2nd Reading

    4/10/2025Senate

  19. 2nd Reading Motion to Amend

    4/10/2025Senate

  20. Committee Report

    4/9/2025Senate

  21. Committee Executive Action

    4/9/2025Senate

  22. Hearing

    4/7/2025Senate

  23. Hearing Canceled

    4/6/2025Senate

  24. Hearing

    4/5/2025Senate

  25. Hearing Canceled

    3/31/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • As Amended (Version 4)

    5/1/2025

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    5/1/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 3)

    4/10/2025

    PDF

  • As Amended (Version 2)

    4/9/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    2/26/2025

    PDF

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