AR
Arkansas House Bill HB1800

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

Arkansas House Bill HB1800 Compare Versions

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11 Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
2-Act 998 of the Regular Session
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5-State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 1
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3+State of Arkansas 1
64 95th General Assembly A Bill 2
75 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1800 3
86 4
97 By: Representative McAlindon 5
108 By: Senator M. McKee 6
119 7
1210 For An Act To Be Entitled 8
1311 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE FOR 9
14-CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE BY A 10
15-REPRESENTATIVE OF A HOSTILE FOREIGN PRINCIPAL; TO 11
16-AMEND PORTIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE THAT RESULTED 12
17-FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
12+CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE BY AGENTS OF 10
13+A FOREIGN PRINCIPAL; TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE 11
14+ARKANSAS CODE THAT RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 12
15+1990; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 13
1816 14
1917 15
2018 Subtitle 16
2119 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DISCLOSURE 17
2220 FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE; TO REQUIRE 18
23-DISCLOSURE BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF A 19
24-HOSTILE FOREIGN PRINCIPAL; AND TO AMEND 20
25-PORTIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE THAT 21
26-RESULTED FROM INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990. 22
21+DISCLOSURE BY AGENTS OF A FOREIGN 19
22+PRINCIPAL; AND TO AMEND PORTIONS OF THE 20
23+ARKANSAS CODE THAT RESULTED FROM 21
24+INITIATED ACT 1 OF 1990. 22
2725 23
2826 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 24
2927 25
3028 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 7 -6-217(g)(1) - (3), concerning the 26
3129 creation of the Arkansas Ethics Commission and resulting from Initiated Act 1 27
3230 of 1990, is amended to read as follows: 28
3331 (g) The commission shall have the authority to: 29
3432 (1) Under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25 -15-201 30
3533 et seq., promulgate reasonable rules to implement and administer the 31
3634 requirements of this subchapter, as well as § 7 -1-114 [repealed]; the 32
3735 Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to 33
3836 Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 19-11-718; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure 34
3937 Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-401 et seq., § 21-8-35
40-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
38+601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; 36 HB1800
4139
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4541 § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and Arkansas 1
4642 Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28 -30; and to govern procedures before the 2
4743 commission, matters of commission operations, and all investigative and 3
4844 disciplinary procedures and proceedings; 4
4945 (2) Issue advisory opinions and guidelines on the requirements 5
5046 of § 6-24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), and (7); § 7 -1-114 6
5147 [repealed]; this subchapter; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, 7
5248 Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters, § 7 -9-401 et seq.; § 19-11-718; § 8
5349 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local 9
5450 Officials, § 21-8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 10
5551 21-8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et 11
5652 seq.; § 25-1-125; and Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28 -30; 12
5753 (3) After a citizen complaint has been submitted to the 13
5854 commission, investigate alleged violations of § 6 -24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-14
5955 103(a)(1)-(4), (6), and (7); § 7 -1-114 [repealed]; this subchapter; the 15
6056 Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to 16
6157 Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 19-11-718; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et 17
6258 seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-18
6359 401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; 19
6460 § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and 20
6561 Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28 -30; and render findings and 21
6662 disciplinary action thereon; 22
6763 23
6864 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 7 -6-218(a)(1), concerning citizen 24
6965 complaints filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission and resulting from 25
7066 Initiated Act 1 of 1990, is amended to read as follows: 26
7167 (a)(1) Any citizen may file a complaint with the Arkansas Ethics 27
7268 Commission against a person covered by this subchapter, by § 6 -24-101 et 28
7369 seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7 -1-114 [repealed]; the Disclosure 29
7470 Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters, § 7 -30
7571 9-401 et seq.; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for 31
7672 Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et 32
7773 seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-33
7874 1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and Arkansas Constitution, 34
7975 Article 19, §§ 28-30, for an alleged violation of the subchapters or 35
80-sections. For purposes of this subdivision (a)(1), the Arkansas Ethics 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
76+sections. For purposes of this subdivision (a)(1), the Arkansas Ethics 36 HB1800
8177
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8579 Commission shall be considered a citizen. 1
8680 2
8781 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 7 -6-218(b)(1)(A), concerning citizen 3
8882 complaints filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission and resulting from 4
8983 Initiated Act 1 of 1990, is amended to read as follows: 5
9084 (b)(1)(A) Upon a complaint stating facts constituting an alleged 6
9185 violation signed under penalty of perjury by any person, the Arkansas Ethics 7
9286 Commission shall investigate the alleged violation of this subchapter or § 6 -8
9387 24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7 -1-114 [repealed]; the 9
9488 Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, Referenda, and Measures Referred to 10
9589 Voters, § 7-9-401 et seq.; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the 11
9690 Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-401 et 12
9791 seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-13
9892 901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; and 14
9993 Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28 -30. 15
10094 16
10195 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 7 -6-218(b)(4), concerning citizen 17
10296 complaints filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission and resulting from 18
10397 Initiated Act 1 of 1990, is amended to read as follows: 19
10498 (4) If the Arkansas Ethics Commission finds a violation of this 20
10599 subchapter; § 6-24-101 et seq.; § 7-1-103(a)(1)-(4), (6), or (7); § 7 -1-114 21
106100 [repealed]; § 21-1-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et seq.; the Disclosure Act for 22
107101 Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et 23
108102 seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-24
109103 1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; or Arkansas Constitution, 25
110104 Article 19, §§ 28-30, then the Arkansas Ethics Commission shall do one (1) or 26
111105 more of the following, unless good cause be shown for the violation: 27
112106 (A) Issue a public letter of caution or warning or 28
113107 reprimand; 29
114108 (B)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of §§ 7 -6-202, 7-9-30
115109 409, 21-8-403, and 21-8-903, and 21-8-1105, impose a fine of not less than 31
116110 fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than three thousand five hundred dollars 32
117111 ($3,500) for negligent or intentional violation of this subchapter; § 6 -24-33
118112 101 et seq.; § 7-1-114 [repealed]; the Disclosure Act for Public Initiatives, 34
119113 Referenda, and Measures Referred to Voters, § 7 -9-401 et seq.; § 21-8-301 et 35
120-seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
114+seq.; the Disclosure Act for Lobbyists and State and Local Officials, § 21 -8-36 HB1800
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125117 401 et seq., § 21-8-601 et seq., § 21-8-701 et seq., and § 21 -8-801 et seq.; 1
126118 § 21-8-901 et seq.; § 21-8-1001 et seq.; § 21-8-1101 et seq.; § 25-1-125; or 2
127119 Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, §§ 28 -30. 3
128120 (ii) A fine for violating § 7 -1-114 [repealed]; 4
129121 shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150). 5
130122 (iii) The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall adopt 6
131123 rules governing the imposition of such fines in accordance with the 7
132124 provisions of the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25 -15-201 et seq. 8
133125 (iv) All moneys received by the Arkansas Ethics 9
134126 Commission in payment of fines shall be deposited into the State Treasury as 10
135127 general revenues; 11
136128 (C) Order the respondent to file or amend a statutorily 12
137129 required disclosure form; or 13
138130 (D)(i) Report its finding, along with such information and 14
139131 documents as it deems appropriate, and make recommendations to the proper law 15
140132 enforcement authorities. 16
141133 (ii) When exercising the authority provided in this 17
142134 subdivision (b)(4), the Arkansas Ethics Commission is not required to make a 18
143135 finding of a violation of the laws under its jurisdiction. 19
144136 20
145- Subchapter 11 —— Disclosure by Representatives of a Hostile Foreign 21
146-Principal 22
137+ SECTION 5. Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 8, is amended to add an 21
138+additional subchapter to read as follows: 22
147139 23
148- 21-8-1101. Legislative findings. 24
149- The General Assembly finds that: 25
150- (1) The voters, citizens, and policymakers of this state are 26
151-entitled to transparency in the political and propaganda activities of 27
152-organizations that may be controlled by or under the influence of foreign 28
153-countries hostile to the interests of this state and of the United States; 29
154- (2) In an increasingly globalized world, determining whether an 30
155-organization’s political and propaganda activities are funded by hostile 31
156-foreign interests is often difficult; and 32
157- (3) Legislation is needed to ensure the transparency necessary 33
158-to allow voters, citizens, and policymakers to evaluate whether political and 34
159-propaganda activities are funded by potentially hostile foreign actors. 35
160- 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
140+ Subchapter 11 —— Disclosure by Agents of a Foreign Principal or a 24
141+Foreign-supported Political Organization 25
142+ 26
143+ 21-8-1101. Legislative findings. 27
144+ The General Assembly finds that: 28
145+ (1) The voters, citizens, and policymakers of this state are 29
146+entitled to transparency in the political and propaganda activities of 30
147+organizations that may be controlled by or under the influence of foreign 31
148+countries hostile to the interests of this state and of the United States; 32
149+ (2) In an increasingly globalized world, determining whether an 33
150+organization’s political and propaganda activities are funded by hostile 34
151+foreign interests is often difficult; and 35
152+ (3) Legislation is needed to ensure the transparency necessary 36 HB1800
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155+to allow voters, citizens, and policymakers to evaluate whether political and 1
156+propaganda activities are funded by potentially hostile foreign actors. 2
157+ 3
158+ 21-8-1102. Definitions. 4
159+ As used in this subchapter: 5
160+ (1) “Agent of a foreign principal” means: 6
161+ (A) A person who acts as an agent, employee, 7
162+representative, or servant, or otherwise acts at the order, request, or under 8
163+the direction or control of a foreign principal; 9
164+ (B) A person whose actions are financed in whole or in 10
165+part by a foreign principal; and 11
166+ (C) A person who engages in political activity; 12
167+ (2) “Foreign principal” means: 13
168+ (A) A government of a foreign country, a political party 14
169+of a foreign country, or any member of a political party of a foreign 15
170+country; 16
171+ (B) A nonresident alien of a foreign country; 17
172+ (C) A partnership, association, corporation, organization, 18
173+or other combination of persons organized under the law of or having its 19
174+principal place of business in a foreign country; or 20
175+ (D) A domestic partnership, association, corporation, 21
176+organization, or other combination of persons that is at least twenty percent 22
177+(20%) beneficially owned by: 23
178+ (i) A foreign government; 24
179+ (ii) A nonresident alien of a foreign country; or 25
180+ (iii) An entity organized under the laws of or 26
181+having its principal place of business in a foreign country; 27
182+ (3) “Foreign-supported political organization” means a political 28
183+party or a domestic partnership, association, corporation, organization, or 29
184+any other combination of persons that has, within the past five (5) calendar 30
185+years, received money or other things of value from a foreign principal or an 31
186+agent of a foreign principal and that engages in political activity; 32
187+ (4) “Hostile foreign nation” means the: 33
188+ (A) People’s Republic of China; 34
189+ (B) Russian Federation; 35
190+ (C) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; or 36 HB1800
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193+ (D) Islamic Republic of Iran; and 1
194+ (5) “Political activity” means an activity that is performed to 2
195+influence an agency or public official of this state, a local government 3
196+entity within this state, or the public within this state, with reference to: 4
197+ (A) Formulating, adopting, or changing the policies or 5
198+laws of this state; or 6
199+ (B) Electing or opposing a candidate for local or state 7
200+public office. 8
201+ 9
202+ 21-8-1103. Transparency in representation of foreign principals. 10
203+ (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a person shall 11
204+not act as an agent of a foreign principal unless the person has filed a true 12
205+and complete registration statement and supplements with the Arkansas Ethics 13
206+Commission as required by this subchapter. 14
207+ (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who 15
208+becomes an agent of a foreign principal shall file a registration statement 16
209+under oath with the commission within ten (10) days of the person's becoming 17
210+an agent of a foreign principal. 18
211+ (3) The obligation of an agent of a foreign principal to file a 19
212+registration statement, after the tenth day of becoming an agent of a foreign 20
213+principal, shall continue from day to day, and termination of status as an 21
214+agent of a foreign principal shall not relieve the agent of a foreign 22
215+principal from the obligation to file a registration statement for the period 23
216+during which he or she was an agent of a foreign principal. 24
217+ (b) The registration statement required under this section shall 25
218+include the following: 26
219+ (1) The registrant's: 27
220+ (A) Name; 28
221+ (B) Principal business address; 29
222+ (C) Other business addresses in the United States or 30
223+elsewhere; and 31
224+ (D) Residence addresses, if any; 32
225+ (2) A comprehensive statement of the nature of the registrant's 33
226+business; 34
227+ (3)(A) A statement of the nature of the work of each foreign 35
228+principal for whom the registrant is acting, assuming, or purporting to act 36 HB1800
164229
165- 21-8-1102. Definitions. 1
166- As used in this subchapter: 2
167- (1) “Foreign-supported political organization” means a political 3
168-party or a domestic partnership, association, corporation, organization, or 4
169-any other combination of persons that has, within the past five (5) calendar 5
170-years, received money or other things of value from a hostile foreign 6
171-principal or a representative of a hostile foreign principal and that engages 7
172-in political activity; 8
173- (2) “Hostile foreign nation” means the: 9
174- (A) People’s Republic of China; 10
175- (B) Russian Federation; 11
176- (C) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; or 12
177- (D) Islamic Republic of Iran; 13
178- (3) “Hostile foreign principal” means: 14
179- (A) A government of a hostile foreign nation, a political 15
180-party of a hostile foreign nation, or any member of a political party of a 16
181-hostile foreign nation; 17
182- (B) A nonresident alien of a hostile foreign nation; or 18
183- (C) A partnership, association, corporation, organization, 19
184-or other combination of persons organized under the law of or having its 20
185-principal place of business in a hostile foreign nation; 21
186- (4) “Political activity” means an activity that is performed to 22
187-influence an agency or public official of this state, a local government 23
188-entity within this state, or the public within this state, with reference to: 24
189- (A) Formulating, adopting, or changing the policies or 25
190-laws of this state; or 26
191- (B) Electing or opposing a candidate for local or state 27
192-public office, not including campaign donations; and 28
193- (5) “Representative of a hostile foreign principal” means a 29
194-person: 30
195- (A) Who acts as an agent, employee, representative, or 31
196-servant, or otherwise acts at the order, request, or under the direction or 32
197-control of a hostile foreign principal; 33
198- (B) Whose actions are financed in whole or in part by a 34
199-hostile foreign principal; and 35
200- (C) Who engages in political activity. 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
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231+or has agreed to act, and the character of the business or other activities 1
232+of each foreign principal. 2
233+ (B) If the foreign principal is not a natural person, the 3
234+registration statement shall also detail the degree to which the foreign 4
235+principal is supervised, directed, owned, controlled, financed, or subsidized 5
236+in whole or in part by any: 6
237+ (i) Government of a foreign country or foreign 7
238+political party; or 8
239+ (ii) Other foreign principal; 9
240+ (4) The nature and amount of contributions, income, money, or 10
241+other thing of value, if any, that the registrant has received within the 11
242+preceding sixty (60) days from the foreign principal, either as compensation 12
243+or for disbursement or otherwise, and the form and time of the payment and 13
244+from whom the payment was received; 14
245+ (5) A detailed statement of every activity that the registrant 15
246+is performing, assuming, purporting, or has agreed to perform for himself or 16
247+herself or any other person other than a foreign principal and that requires 17
248+his or her registration under this subchapter; 18
249+ (6) The name, business, and residence addresses, and if an 19
250+individual, the nationality, of any person other than a foreign principal for 20
251+whom the registrant is acting, assuming, or purporting to act or has agreed 21
252+to act under the circumstances that require registration under this 22
253+subchapter; 23
254+ (7) The nature and amount of contributions, income, money, or 24
255+other thing of value, if any, that the registrant has received during the 25
256+preceding sixty (60) days from each person in connection with any of the 26
257+activities referred to in subdivision (b)(6) of this section; 27
258+ (8) A detailed statement of the money or other thing of value 28
259+spent or disposed of by the registrant during the preceding sixty (60) days 29
260+in furtherance of or in connection with activities that: 30
261+ (A) Require the registration under this subchapter; and 31
262+ (B) Have been undertaken by the registrant either as an 32
263+agent of a foreign principal or for himself or herself or any other person or 33
264+in connection with any activities relating to the registrant's becoming an 34
265+agent of a foreign principal; 35
266+ (9) A detailed statement of any contributions of money or other 36 HB1800
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269+thing of value made by the registrant during the preceding sixty (60) days 1
270+to: 2
271+ (A) Bring about the nomination or election of a candidate 3
272+for any office; 4
273+ (B) Bring about the recall of a public officer holding 5
274+elective office; 6
275+ (C) Oppose the recall of a public officer holding elective 7
276+office; or 8
277+ (D) Bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of 9
278+any proposed constitutional amendment, a statewide referendum, or a proposed 10
279+initiated act or ordinance that is to appear on the ballot in this state or 11
280+in a county or a municipal election in this state; and 12
281+ (10) Any other statements, information, or documents that the 13
282+commission may require. 14
283+ (c) A registered agent of a foreign principal under this subchapter 15
284+shall update the registration statement required under this section no less 16
285+frequently than quarterly. 17
286+ 18
287+ 21-8-1104. Transparency in foreign -supported political organizations. 19
288+ (a) No later than January 31, 2026, and each following year, each 20
289+foreign-supported political organization shall register with the Arkansas 21
290+Ethics Commission and provide the following information: 22
291+ (1) The name of the foreign -supported political organization, 23
292+its business address, and the names, titles, and addresses of all officers 24
293+and directors of the foreign -supported political organization; 25
294+ (2) If the foreign-supported political organization is 26
295+affiliated with or a chapter of a national organization, the name of the 27
296+national organization, its address, and the names and addresses of its 28
297+officers and directors; 29
298+ (3) A detailed statement of any expenditures of money or other 30
299+things of value made by the foreign -supported political organization within 31
300+the prior calendar year to influence an agency or public official of this 32
301+state, a local government entity within this state, or the public within this 33
302+state, with reference to formulating, adopting, or changing the policies or 34
303+laws of this state or electing a candidate to local or state public office; 35
304+and 36 HB1800
203305
204-
205- 1
206- 21-8-1103. Transparency in representation of hostile foreign 2
207-principals. 3
208- (a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, a person shall 4
209-not act as a representative of a hostile foreign principal unless the person 5
210-has filed a true and complete registration statement with the Secretary of 6
211-State as required by this subchapter. 7
212- (2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who 8
213-becomes a representative of a hostile foreign principal shall file a 9
214-registration statement under oath with the Secretary of State within ten (10) 10
215-days of the person's becoming a representative of a hostile foreign 11
216-principal. 12
217- (3) The obligation of a representative of a hostile foreign 13
218-principal to file a registration statement, after the tenth day of becoming a 14
219-representative of a hostile foreign principal, shall continue from day to 15
220-day, and termination of status as a representative of a hostile foreign 16
221-principal shall not relieve the representative of a hostile foreign principal 17
222-from the obligation to file a registration statement for the period during 18
223-which he or she was a representative of a hostile foreign principal. 19
224- (b) The registration statement required under this section shall 20
225-include the following: 21
226- (1) The registrant's: 22
227- (A) Name; 23
228- (B) Principal business address; 24
229- (C) Other business addresses in the United States or 25
230-elsewhere; and 26
231- (D) Residence addresses, if any; and 27
232- (2) A comprehensive statement of the nature of the registrant's 28
233-business. 29
234- (c) A registered representative of a hostile foreign principal under 30
235-this subchapter shall update the registration statement required under this 31
236-section no less frequently than quarterly. 32
237- 33
238- 21-8-1104. Transparency in foreign -supported political organizations. 34
239- (a) No later than January 31, 2026, and each following year, each 35
240-foreign-supported political organization shall register with the Secretary of 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
241-
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243-
244-
245-State and provide the following information: 1
246- (1) The name of the foreign -supported political organization, 2
247-its business address, and upon request the names, titles, and addresses of 3
248-all officers and directors of the foreign -supported political organization; 4
249- (2) If the foreign-supported political organization is 5
250-affiliated with or a chapter of a national organization, the name of the 6
251-national organization, its address, and the names and addresses of its 7
252-officers and directors; 8
253- (3) A detailed statement of any expenditures of money or other 9
254-things of value made by the foreign -supported political organization within 10
255-the prior calendar year to influence an agency or public official of this 11
256-state, a local government entity within this state, or the public within this 12
257-state, with reference to formulating, adopting, or changing the policies or 13
258-laws of this state or electing a candidate to local or state public office; 14
259-and 15
260- (4) A detailed statement of all money or other thing of value 16
261-received by the foreign -supported political organization from a hostile 17
262-foreign principal or a representative of a hostile foreign principal during 18
263-the prior calendar year. 19
264- (b) A foreign-supported political organization under this subchapter 20
265-shall update the registration statement required under this section no less 21
266-frequently than annually. 22
267- 23
268- 21-8-1105. Penalties for violation. 24
269- (a) Upon receipt of a complaint that a representative of a hostile 25
270-foreign principal or a foreign -supported political organization has failed to 26
271-comply with the registration and reporting requirements of this subchapter, 27
272-or upon his or her own determination, the Secretary of State may investigate 28
273-and assess penalties for the violation of this subchapter. 29
274- (b) The Secretary of State may assess the following civil penalties: 30
275- (1) For any violation of this subchapter, up to five hundred 31
276-dollars ($500) per violation; and 32
277- (2) For willful or repeated violations of this subchapter, up to 33
278-two thousand dollars ($2,000) per violation. 34
279- 35
280- 21-8-1106. Rules. 36 As Engrossed: H4/1/25 S4/8/25 HB1800
281-
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285- The Secretary of State shall promulgate rules to: 1
286- (1) Create and maintain registration statement forms as 2
287-described under this subchapter; and 3
288- (2) Implement this subchapter. 4
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307+ (4) A detailed statement of all money or other thing of value 1
308+received by the foreign -supported political organization from a foreign 2
309+principal or an agent of a foreign principal during the prior calendar year. 3
310+ (b) A foreign-supported political organization under this subchapter 4
311+shall update the registration statement required under this section no less 5
312+frequently than quarterly. 6
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314+ 21-8-1105. Penalties for violation. 8
315+ (a) Upon receipt of a complaint that an agent of a foreign principal 9
316+or a foreign-supported political organization has failed to comply with the 10
317+registration and reporting requirements of this subchapter, or upon its own 11
318+determination, the Arkansas Ethics Commission may investigate and assess 12
319+penalties for the violation of this subchapter. 13
320+ (b) The commission may assess the following civil penalties: 14
321+ (1) For any violation of this subchapter, up to five hundred 15
322+dollars ($500) per violation; and 16
323+ (2) For willful or repeated violations of this subchapter, up to 17
324+two thousand dollars ($2,000) per violation. 18
325+ (c) The commission may assess the following civil penalties for 19
326+willful or repeated violations of this subchapter in which the foreign 20
327+principal involves a hostile foreign nation: 21
328+ (1) Up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation; 22
329+and 23
330+ (2) An order of debarment against the foreign principal and the: 24
331+ (A) Foreign agent; or 25
332+ (B) Foreign-supported political organization. 26
333+ (d) The commission may refer any matter involving a violation of this 27
334+subchapter to the: 28
335+ (1) Attorney General for further civil action; or 29
336+ (2) Prosecuting attorney for criminal action. 30
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338+ 21-8-1106. Rules. 32
339+ The Arkansas Ethics Commission shall promulgate rules necessary to: 33
340+ (1) Create and maintain registration statement forms as 34
341+described under this subchapter; and 35
342+ (2) Implement this subchapter. 36