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SB 1047

Campaigns and Campaign Finance - As introduced, prohibits foreign entities and domestic entities that receive funding from foreign entities from making contributions to a candidate or a political campaign committee; prohibits the speakers of the senate and the house of representatives and the secretary of state from accepting funds from foreign entities and domestic entities that receive funding from foreign entities for conducting elections. - Amends TCA Title 2 and Title 3.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Janice Bowling

Bans campaign contributions and in-kind support from foreign-based or foreign-funded groups and bars top Tennessee officials from accepting such funding.

Failed in Senate State and Local Government Committee
#campaignsandcampaignfinance
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 1047

Summary of SB 1047 / HB 611 (Tennessee, 114th Legislature)

Purpose and intent

  • The bill prohibits political contributions and related campaign activities from funds or entities with foreign ties.
  • It also restricts high-ranking state officials from accepting funding from organizations that are either foreign or funded by foreign entities.
  • Overall goal: limit foreign influence in Tennessee political campaigns and election administration.

Key provisions

1) Prohibition on foreign funding to campaigns

  • Adds a new provision to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 2 (Campaigns and Campaign Finance) that:
    • An organization or entity that is based outside the United States, or that is based in the United States but receives funding from foreign-based entities, shall not make contributions to a candidate or a political campaign committee.
    • The prohibition covers all forms of contributions, including in-kind contributions (e.g., advertising, campaign staff wages, training) and promotional activities for campaigns or elections.

2) Restrictions on accepting funding by the Speaker of the Senate and Speaker of the House

  • Amends TCA § 2-11-114(a) to create a new subdivision (2):
    • The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall not approve acceptance of funding from:
    • An organization or entity based outside the United States, or
    • An organization/entity based in the United States that receives funding from foreign-based entities.

3) Restrictions on accepting funding by the Secretary of State

  • Amends TCA § 2-12-118(a) to create a new subdivision (2):
    • The Secretary of State (or the secretary’s designee) shall not approve acceptance of funding under the same foreign-origin criteria as above:
    • Funding from an organization/entity based outside the United States, or
    • Funding from a U.S. organization/entity that receives funding from foreign-based entities.

4) Effective date

  • This act takes effect upon becoming law (immediate effect once enacted).

Who/what is affected

  • Political campaigns and campaign committees in Tennessee.
  • Organizations/entities that are foreign-based or U.S.-based but funded by foreign entities.
  • The Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives (as they pertain to accepting funding for election-related activities).
  • The Secretary of State (and designees) in accepting funding for election administration/activities.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Legislative history shows the bill was introduced in February 2025.
  • It passed first reading and second consideration in the Senate (HB/SB cross-file), later referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
  • On April 2, 2025, the bill failed in the Senate State and Local Government Committee (status: failed in committee).
  • Fiscal note indicates the fiscal impact is not significant; current SOS data suggests no foreign-based funding is already accepted, implying limited to no current administrative cost impact.

Fiscal impact

  • The fiscal note states: NOT SIGNIFICANT.
  • Assumptions include that prohibiting foreign funding would primarily affect private funding streams to campaigns; reductions would affect non-state revenue for campaigns rather than state/local government budgets.
  • No expected increases in campaign finance violations or penalties.
  • SOS reportedly does not currently accept funding from foreign-based entities or their U.S.-based recipients.

Practical considerations

  • If enacted, the bill would tighten compliance requirements for campaign funding and election administration.
  • It could reduce avenues for foreign influence or influence from foreign-funded groups in Tennessee elections.
  • Enforcement would rely on the identification of funding sources and the origin of entities involved in campaign contributions or election administration funding.

Bottom line

SB 1047 / HB 611 aims to:
- Ban contributions (including in-kind) from foreign-based entities or U.S.-based entities funded by foreign sources to candidates and campaign committees.
- Prohibit the Speaker of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and the Secretary of State from accepting funding from such foreign-connected entities.
- Take effect upon passage; as of the latest action, the bill did not advance out of committee in the Senate.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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