The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 1, 2025
The federal version of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, has been in place since 1938, but recently, states are passing their own versions, nicknamed “baby FARAs.” What are they, and how do they relate to American Democracy?
The federal version requires representatives of a “foreign principal” government, political party or individual” doing political work in the United States to disclose their relationships, income and spending.
Recently, state legislatures are increasingly concerned with foreign influence in elections, and spending on ballot initiatives. April 22nd, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed two bills addressing those concerns.
HB1800 amends the state’s campaign finance law to require disclosure of political activity by a representative of a hostile foreign principal, specifically Russia, China, North Korea or Iran – all entities which have meddled in recent U.S. elections. HB1837 bans foreign funding for ballot measures, similar to Minnesota’s 2023 ban. After a Quebec utility tried to influence a ballot measure, Maine voters banned foreign spending in 2024.
In recent years, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, Illinois, Oklahoma, Tennessee, West Virginia, California, and New York, have all proposed or implemented state FARA legislation.
Meanwhile, a February memo by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi rolled back enforcement of the federal statute to QUOTE, “conduct similar to more traditional espionage by foreign government actors.”
We have the federal and Arkansas statutes at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
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Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Congressional Research Service – Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA): An Overview
U.S. Department of Justice – Recent Cases and Enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act
Covington & Burling Law Firm’s Inside Political Law – Arkansas Governor Signs Baby FARA Law
Arkansas Legislature – TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF A HOSTILE FOREIGN PRINCIPAL
Arkansas Legislature – TO BAN FOREIGN FUNDING FOR BALLOT MEASURES
Steptoe Political Law Blog – (2024) Not FAR-Away: Proposed State Legislation Increases in an Attempt to Regulate Foreign Agents
Campaign Legal Center – (2024) Defending Foreign Corporate Election Spending Ban in Minnesota (Minnesota Chamber of Commerce v. Choi)
American Democracy Minute – (2023) After a Canadian Utility Spent $22 Million Dollars to Influence a Ballot Measure, Maine Voters Ban Foreign Money in State Elections
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause, Campaign Legal Center, Protect Our Democracy, Issue One
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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