Bill > HB0888

This bill establishes new regulations for political campaign committees in Tennessee that are created to support or oppose ballot measures, focusing primarily on preventing foreign national influence in such campaigns. The legislation defines "foreign national" broadly, including non-U.S. citizens, foreign governments, foreign political parties, and entities primarily based outside the United States. Political campaign committees must now file certifications with the Registry of Election Finance confirming that no preliminary campaign activities were funded by prohibited sources, and they are prohibited from knowingly receiving contributions or expenditures from foreign nationals. The bill requires campaign committees and independent expenditure makers to maintain detailed records of contributions for at least two years and obtain affirmations from donors that they are not foreign nationals and have not accepted substantial foreign funding. Additionally, the legislation establishes strict enforcement mechanisms, allowing the Registry of Election Finance to bring civil actions with a burden of proof on the registry, potential court hearings to determine probable cause, and significant penalties for violations, including mandatory refunds, potential personal liability for committee leadership, and statutory damages up to twice the amount of prohibited contributions. The bill also includes privacy protections for donors to tax-exempt organizations, ensuring that investigations do not unnecessarily expose donor identities.

Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0888&ga=114