Prohibits contributions or donations to be made by hostile foreign nations in connection with a state or local election; makes a knowing violation of such provisions a class A felony, subject to an additional civil penalty equal to the contribution or donation amount plus a fine of up to ten thousand dollars.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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1774
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. WALCZYK -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to prohibited contrib-
utions by hostile foreign nations in connection with a state or local
election
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 14-100 of the election law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 18 to read as follows:
3 18. "hostile foreign nation" means the nation of Russia, China, Iran,
4 or North Korea, any governmental entity of any such nation or subdivi-
5 sion thereof, or any party, organization, group, or other entity with
6 operational ties to any such nation.
7 § 2. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-116-a to
8 read as follows:
9 § 14-116-a. Prohibited contributions by hostile foreign nations. 1.
10 Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, it shall be unlaw-
11 ful for a hostile foreign nation, directly or indirectly, to make a
12 contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an
13 express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in
14 connection with a state or local election.
15 2. It shall be unlawful for a hostile foreign nation, directly or
16 indirectly, to make a contribution or donation to a constituted commit-
17 tee, independent expenditure committee, political committee, or party
18 committee.
19 3. It shall be unlawful for a hostile foreign nation, directly or
20 indirectly, to make an expenditure, independent expenditure, or
21 disbursement for a political communication.
22 4. It shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly solicit, accept, or
23 receive a contribution or donation described in subdivision one, two or
24 three of this section from a hostile foreign nation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05115-01-5
S. 1774 2
1 5. It shall be unlawful for a person who receives a contribution or
2 donation from a hostile foreign nation to use such contribution or
3 donation, directly or indirectly, for any of the purposes described in
4 subdivision one, two, or three of this section, or to contribute,
5 donate, transfer, or convey funds from such a contribution or donation
6 to another person for use for any of the purposes described in subdivi-
7 sion one, two, or three of this section.
8 6. Any person found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a
9 class A felony and shall be subject to a civil penalty equal to the
10 contribution or donation amount plus a fine of up to ten thousand
11 dollars, to be recoverable in a special proceeding or civil action to be
12 brought by the state board of elections chief enforcement counsel.
13 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
