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SCR 1027

elections; foreign contributions; certification; donations

57th Legislature - First Regular Session Introduced by Shawnna Bolick

SCR 1027 bans foreign influence in Arizona elections and ballot measures by requiring sworn vendor/campaign certifications, quarterly disclosures, and penalties.

DPA
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SCR 1027

Summary — SCR 1027 (2025): Elections; foreign contributions; certification; donations

Status: DPA (do pass as amended). Introduced: Feb 10, 2025. Classification: Concurrent resolution to place a constitutional/statutory measure on the ballot (to be submitted at the next general election).

Purpose / Intent

SCR 1027 would add new statutory prohibitions and compliance obligations to reduce foreign influence in Arizona election administration and in campaigns to influence ballot measures. It requires certifications from vendors and campaign committees, expands reporting and public disclosure, and creates civil and criminal enforcement mechanisms. The measure must be approved by Arizona voters to become law.

Key provisions

  • Adds two election-administration sections (A.R.S. §§16-407.04 and 16-407.05):

    • Prohibits government entities from using monies or in-kind goods/services donated (directly or indirectly) by specified foreign sources for election administration.
    • Requires any person or vendor providing election-administration services to file a sworn certification with the Secretary of State that they are not knowingly the recipient, directly or indirectly, of donations from a foreign source. Certification must be updated annually and within 5 business days if new disqualifying information is discovered.
    • Secretary of State must collect quarterly reports from government entities listing vendors used for election administration and publish vendor certifications on the Secretary of State’s website.
    • Failure to provide (or providing inaccurate) certification invalidates agreements and bars the government entity from entering into or continuing contracts with the vendor.
    • Criminal penalty: knowingly failing to provide an accurate certification is a class 1 misdemeanor.

  • Enforcement (A.R.S. §16-407.05):

    • Attorney General may sue for knowing violations — injunctive relief and at least $5,000 in damages per knowing violation, plus other relief.
    • Any qualified elector or state officer may bring civil actions to enjoin violations or enforce the law; prevailing plaintiffs may obtain injunctive relief, $1,000 per day damages from date of noncompliance until compliance, and costs/attorney fees.
    • Remedies are cumulative to other legal remedies.

  • Adds restrictions on foreign contributions to ballot-measure campaigns (A.R.S. §16-919, as amended in engrossed version):

    • Prohibits foreign nationals (expanded defined class) from directing, controlling, or participating in decision-making of persons/entities/committees influencing ballot measures.
    • Prohibits knowingly receiving, soliciting, accepting or using contributions/expenditures/in‑kind goods or services from foreign nationals to influence ballot measures.
    • Campaigns/committees required to certify under penalty of perjury in finance reports that they have not accepted forbidden foreign contributions; additional affirmative attestations for contributors if large aggregate sums (e.g., $100,000 threshold referenced in engrossed text).
    • Secretary of State must require certain pre-organization certifications (text partially truncated in the available document).

Definitions and exceptions

  • Engrossed version uses the term “foreign national” with an expanded definition that can include individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, foreign governments/subdivisions, foreign political parties, and foreign-organized entities (with an ownership-based carve-out for U.S. entities wholly/majority owned by foreign nationals under narrow conditions).
  • Both versions exclude federally recognized sovereign tribal nations from “foreign government”/“foreign national” definitions.
  • Engrossed version creates an exception for “common goods” or facilities that serve as voting locations (items not specific to election administration).

Who is affected

  • State, county, and local government entities that administer elections (must report vendors quarterly).
  • Vendors and contractors that provide election-administration services (must certify, face contract invalidation and possible criminal liability).
  • Ballot-measure committees, political committees, and persons/entities that contribute to or manage ballot-measure campaigns (must certify campaign finance reports and avoid prohibited foreign participation).
  • Secretary of State and Attorney General (administration, publication, and enforcement duties).
  • Qualified electors and state officers (private right of action to enforce).

Enforcement, penalties & remedies

  • Criminal: class 1 misdemeanor for knowingly providing false/inaccurate certification.
  • Civil: AG lawsuits with minimum $5,000 per knowing violation; private civil suits with $1,000 per day damages, injunctive relief, costs and fees.
  • Contractual: any agreement with a noncompliant vendor is invalidated; government entities barred from contracting with such vendors.

Procedural / Timeline notes

  • SCR 1027 is a concurrent resolution placing the proposed law before Arizona voters; the Secretary of State will submit it at the next general election if the resolution is enacted.
  • Legislative actions: introduced Feb 10, 2025; passed and transmitted to the House in early March; DPA on Mar 26, 2025. Voter approval is required for it to take effect.

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Increases transparency and vetting of vendors and campaign funding sources but imposes new administrative and compliance burdens (annual and event-driven certifications, quarterly reporting).
  • Could lead to contract churn or vendor disqualification where disclosure is lacking or certifications fail.
  • Expands private enforcement via citizen suits, potentially increasing litigation risk.
  • Definitions and ownership carve-outs (in engrossed version) create complexity for entities with foreign ownership or cross-border ties; tribal governments are explicitly excluded from “foreign” definitions.

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

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