Bill > HB3750

This bill, concerning initiative and referendum processes in Oklahoma, aims to prevent foreign influence in ballot measures by defining key terms like "ballot initiative or referendum," "contribution," "expenditure," and "foreign national," which includes individuals not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the U.S., foreign governments, political parties, and entities organized or primarily doing business in foreign countries, with specific exceptions for U.S. entities under certain conditions. It mandates that ballot measure committees must certify that no preliminary activities, such as polling or drafting language, were funded by foreign nationals and prohibits these committees from knowingly accepting any contributions from foreign nationals, requiring treasurers to obtain written affirmations from donors and to affirm on campaign finance reports filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission that no foreign contributions were received. The bill also prohibits foreign nationals from participating in decision-making processes related to ballot measures or soliciting donations for them, and grants the Attorney General the authority to bring civil actions to enforce these provisions, with penalties including the refunding of prohibited contributions, surrendering of independent expenditure funds to the state, and potential revocation or suspension of a lobbyist's registration. Furthermore, it establishes statutory damages up to twice the amount of prohibited contributions or expenditures, with potential penalties up to three times that amount for knowing or willful violations, and clarifies that lawful donors to tax-exempt organizations have a right to privacy, with public officials prohibited from disclosing donor identities unless they are found to have violated the act after a final determination.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb3750&Session=2600