HB1837

House Bill 1837 amends Arkansas law to restrict the influence of foreign nationals in ballot and legislative measure campaigns. It prohibits foreign nationals—defined as non-citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties, or foreign-controlled entities—from directing, controlling, or funding activities intended to influence ballot or legislative questions. The bill requires ballot and legislative question committees, as well as entities making independent expenditures over $10,000, to certify that they have not received funding from prohibited sources. It establishes reporting requirements and mandates donor certifications to confirm that contributors are not foreign nationals and have not themselves accepted significant funding from prohibited sources. The Attorney General is authorized to bring civil actions against violators, with penalties reaching up to triple the amount of prohibited contributions. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to protect the privacy of donors to tax-exempt organizations by limiting the government’s ability to collect or disclose donor identity information unless a violation is suspected or proven.