HB 2521
Initials JH/SR Page 1 Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
HB 2521: elections; foreign money
Sponsor: Representative Way, LD 15
Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Overview
Prohibits the use of monies or in-kind goods and services from a foreign government in
election administration.
History
Campaign finance reports are required to be filed by any candidate committee, political action
committee or political party. These reports must include the total receipts during the
reporting period including contributions from out-of-state individuals and political action
committees. In addition, disbursements or expenditures advocating for the election or defeat
of a candidate and the passage or defeat of a ballot measure must be included. Campaign
finance reports must be accompanied by a certification by a committee's treasurer, issued
under penalty of perjury, that the contents of the report are true and correct (A.R.S. §§ 16-
901, 16-926).
The Attorney General enforces election statutes and regulations through civil and criminal
actions (A.R.S. § 16-1021).
Provisions
1. Prohibits government entities from using monies or in-kind goods or services that are
donated by a foreign government or foreign nongovernmental source for election
administration. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a person or vendor that provides services to a government entity for election
administration to provide a certification including a dated and sworn statement to the
Secretary of State. (Sec. 1)
3. Specifies that this certification must be updated annually. (Sec. 1)
4. Requires, upon receipt of previously unknown information, the person update their
certification and include a new statement that the person is not knowingly the recipient
of donations from a foreign source. (Sec. 1)
5. Mandates that the Secretary of State require government entities to provide a quarterly
report that lists any person or vendor providing services to that government entity for
election administration. (Sec. 1)
6. Establishes that the Secretary of State must notify the government entity by email if the
government entity fails to file its quarterly report and advise them of possible
enforcement actions. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2521
Initials JH/SR Page 2 Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
7. Requires records of the certifications to be maintained by the Secretary of State and
posted online. (Sec. 1)
8. Specifies that failing to provide the certification or providing an inaccurate certification
invalidates any agreement with the government entity and bars the government entity
from entering or continuing any agreement with that person. (Sec. 1)
9. Establishes a civil penalty and the amount of the penalty for a person or vendor knowingly
failing to provide an accurate certification. (Sec. 1)
10. Prohibits a foreign government from knowingly giving and a person, entity or committee
from knowingly accepting or using in-kind goods or services contributed by a foreign
government or a foreign nongovernmental source to influence the outcome of an election
or ballot measure. (Sec. 2)
11. Requires any person, entity or committee required to file campaign finance reports to
certify under penalty of perjury that they did not accept or use monies or in-kind goods or
services from a foreign government or foreign nongovernmental source. (Sec. 2)
12. Specifies that a foreign government does not include federally recognized sovereign tribal
nations. (Sec. 1, 2)
13. Defines foreign nongovernmental source and person. (Sec. 1, 2)