LRB-4839/1
JK:amn
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 599
October 31, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives RATCLIFF, SINICKI, ORTIZ-VELEZ,
CONLEY, J. ANDERSON, EMERSON, SNODGRASS, SUBECK, BALDEH, BARE, SHELTON,
CABRERA, CONSIDINE, PALMERI, STUBBS, C. ANDERSON, JOERS and SHANKLAND,
cosponsored by Senators LARSON, SPREITZER, TAYLOR, ROYS, L. JOHNSON and
HESSELBEIN. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to renumber 11.1208 (4); and to create 11.1208 (4) (b) of the statutes;
relating to: expressly prohibiting a foreign national from making a
contribution to a referendum committee.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law provides that no person may make or accept a contribution, make
a disbursement, make an expenditure, or incur an obligation in violation of the
federal law that prohibits a foreign national from making a contribution in
connection with any federal, state, or local election. This bill provides, in addition,
that no foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum committee and no
referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign national. A recent
decision by the Federal Elections Commission allowed a foreign national to make a
contribution to a ballot initiative committee because the FEC determined that a
ballot initiative is not an “election” for purposes of the federal law prohibiting
contributions from foreign nationals.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 11.1208 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 11.1208 (4) (a).
SECTION 2. 11.1208 (4) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
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SECTION 2 ASSEMBLY BILL 599
11.1208 (4) (b) No foreign national may make a contribution to a referendum
committee and no referendum committee may accept a contribution from a foreign
national. In this paragraph, “foreign national” has the meaning given in 11 CFR
110.20 (a) (3) and 52 USC 30121 (b).
(END)
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