Bill Text: MS SB2653 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Campaign finance; expound on the prohibition of campaign contributions for foreign nationals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-20 - Referred To Elections [SB2653 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2025-SB2653-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Elections
By: Senator(s) England
Senate Bill 2653
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-819, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT FOREIGN NATIONALS FROM MAKING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH AN ELECTION FOR ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, LOCAL BALLOT MEASURE, BALLOT REFERENDUM OR OTHER SIMILAR MEASURES; TO MAKE IT UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY SOLICIT OR AID IN THE SOLICITATION OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS; TO PROVIDE THAT THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING THIS SECTION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO FINES, IMPRISONMENT, OR BOTH, FOR SAID VIOLATION; TO ALLOW ANY PERSON WHO UNKNOWINGLY RECEIVES A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM A FOREIGN NATIONAL TO HAVE 30 DAYS TO REMIT THE VALUE OF THE UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ONCE THE VIOLATION HAS BEEN DETERMINED, OR BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 23-15-819, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
23-15-819. (1) It shall be unlawful for a foreign national, directly or through any other person, to make any contribution or any expenditure of money or other thing of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution or expenditure, in connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any primary election, convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office.
(2) It shall be unlawful for a foreign national, directly or through any other person, to make any contribution or any expenditure of money or other thing of value, or to promise expressly or impliedly to make any such contribution or expenditure, in connection with an election for any constitutional amendment, local ballot measure, ballot referendum or other similar measures.
( * * *3) No person shall knowingly
solicit, accept or receive any such contribution from a foreign national nor
shall any person knowingly aid or facilitate a violation of subsection (1) or
(2) of this section.
( * * *4) The term "foreign
national" means:
(a) A foreign national as defined in 22 USCS 611(b), except that the terms "foreign national" does not include any individual who is a citizen of the United States; or
(b) An individual who is not a citizen of the United States and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
(5) Whoever knowingly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine in a sum equal to three (3) times the amount involved in the violation or Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), whichever amount is greater, or imprisoned for not longer than six (6) months, or by both fine and imprisonment. The payment of such fine shall not be made from any campaign contribution funds.
(6) If an unlawful contribution by a foreign national is unknowingly received, the value of the unlawful contribution shall be paid to the Secretary of State within thirty (30) days of discovery. Any person who fails to remit payment to the Secretary of State within thirty (30) days shall be subject to the penalties set forth in subsection (5) of this section. The Secretary of State shall remit any payment received to the Election Support Fund.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025.
