Ohio Senate Bill 215 (2024)
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Details • Enacted: N/A |
See also |
Ohio Senate Bill 215 was introduced in Ohio in 2024. The legislation would prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures to support or oppose ballot measures; define foreign nationals to include lawful permanent residents; and extend this restriction to alternative political organizations (APOs).[1]
Overview
Senate Bill 215 (SB 215) would prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures to support or oppose ballot measures. This would include making contributions indirectly through another person or organization.[1]
SB 215 would define foreign national to include the following persons and entities:[1]
- an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national;
- a foreign government;
- a foreign political party; and
- a person, other than an individual, that is organized under the laws of a foreign country or has its principal place of business in a foreign country.
As of 2024, in Ohio, state law prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures to support or oppose political candidates. However, this prohibition does not extend to ballot measures. Currently, state law does not classify lawful permanent residents, also known as green card holders, as foreign nationals. Senate Bill 215 seeks to change that by including lawful permanent residents under the definition of foreign nationals.[1]
SB 215 would extend the prohibition against soliciting or accepting contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals to also include alternative political organizations (APO), a new category. APOs would be defined to include continuing associations; nonprofits; for-profit corporations, excluding unincorporated businesses; labor organizations; and other entities. APOs would need to appoint a treasurer and file campaign finance statements, unless the APO certifies not to accept anything of value from foreign nationals, directly or indirectly, for any purpose.[1]
Support
Supporters
Officials
- Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R)[1]
- Attorney General Dave Yost (R)[2]
- Senate President Matt Huffman (R-12)[3]
- State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-2)[1]
- State Sen. Robert McColley (R-1)[1]
- State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-35)[4]
Organizations
- America First Policy Institute[1]
- Americans for Public Trust[1]
- Heritage Action for America[1]
- Honest Elections Project[1]
Arguments
- State Sens. Theresa Gavarone (R-2) and Robert McColley (R-1): "[T]his campaign-finance reform measure will ensure that all of Ohio’s elections are not impacted by foreign influences and will better protect Ohio’s elections from foreign interests hiding behind “dark money” entities like 501(C)(4)s. For example, in 2023, the Sixteen Thirty Fund spent over $13 million dollars across all three Ohio ballot campaigns. This fund has received over $220 million dollars from Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss since 2016. Senate Bill 215 would ensure that foreign billionaires cannot influence elections in our state."[1]
- Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R): "In reviewing the campaign finance records associated with two statewide constitutional ballot issues in 2023, my office has compiled evidence showing foreign nationals contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to 501(c) entities, which then spent millions of dollars in Ohio to influence the outcomes of these proposed constitutional amendments. Ohio law clearly prohibits foreign nationals from donating directly or indirectly to political candidates; however, our laws do not address indirect foreign involvement in ballot campaigns."[1]
- Jason Snead, Executive Director of the Honest Elections Project: "SB 215 would make great strides towards safeguarding the integrity of Ohio’s elections against foreign influence without in any way inhibiting the ability of American citizens to donate to the candidates and causes they support. Nor does the bill infringe on important protections for the privacy of American donors who choose to contribute to political causes in this state. Drawing this distinction between citizens and non-citizens is eminently reasonable. After all, we do not allow non-citizens to vote and we have long banned non-citizens from donating to political candidates."[1]
Opposition
Opponents
Officials
- Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-23)[5]
- State Sen. Bill DeMora (D-25)[6]
Arguments
- State Sen. Bill DeMora (D-25) said, "My Democratic colleagues and I would have loved to support actual campaign finance reform. But that is not what Senate Bill 215 is. It won’t stop foreign contributions. It’s meant to say the words 'foreign money' and 'liberal' as much as possible and as close together as possible, while stifling the voices of Ohioans who want to take an active role in the political process."[6]
- Amy Kurtz, Executive Director of the Sixteen Thirty Fund, said, "When fundamental rights are under attack, Sixteen Thirty Fund will always step up and support organizations fighting back on the ground. We follow the letter of the law in doing so. Ohioans deserve equitable access to comprehensive health care services, including abortion. This stunt from conservatives in Ohio does not address the real issues plaguing our campaign finance system. Sixteen Thirty Fund is on record supporting real reform to increase transparency and reduce the influence of special interest money in politics."[7]
Legislature
State Sens. Theresa Gavarone (R-2) and Robert McColley (R-1) introduced the legislation into the Ohio State Legislature. The following is the timeline for the bill:[1]
- January 23, 2024: Senate Bill 215 (SB 215) is introduced.
- February 28, 2024: The Senate General Government Committee voted 4-1 to pass the bill.
- February 28, 2024: The Ohio State Senate voted 25-7 to pass the bill.
The following table provides information on votes in the legislative chambers:[1]
| SB 215 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 25 | 7 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Democratic | 0 | 7 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Republican | 25 | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
See also
- Changes in 2024 to laws governing ballot measures
- Laws governing foreign spending in ballot measure campaigns
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Ohio State Legislature, "Senate Bill 215," accessed February 27, 2024
- ↑ Ohio Attorney General, "Statement from AG Yost on Ohio Senate’s Passage of Senate Bill 215," February 28, 2024
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio Senate passes bill to restrict foreign contributions to ballot-issue campaigns," February 28, 2024
- ↑ Twitter, "Steve Demetriou," February 29, 2024
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Senate OKs ban on non-US citizens giving to ballot issues. Dems call it sore loser bill," February 28, 2024
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ohio State Senate, "DeMora Condemns Senate Bill 215," February 28, 2024
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio GOP lawmakers respond to abortion vote with proposed ballot issue funding restrictions," January 25, 2024
