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HB 2673

State government; Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture Supplemental Revolving Fund; modifying determined funds provided for expenditures; effective date.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kyle Hilbert

Arizona HB 2673 bans foreign funding for election administration, imposes sworn vendor certifications, penalties, and private enforcement to ensure clean funding.

Becomes law without Governor's signature 05/18/2025
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2673

Summary — HB 2673 (Introduced Feb 11, 2025)

Note on sources and scope
- The provided document contains text primarily of an Arizona bill (Title 16, election law) that adds prohibitions and reporting requirements related to foreign donations for election administration and changes to early voting procedures. The file also includes unrelated/duplicate legislative snippets (an Illinois technical amendment) and a multi-date action history that appears to mix jurisdictions. This summary focuses on the substantive Arizona provisions in the bill text provided. Verify final jurisdiction and current status on the official legislative website.

Purpose and intent
- Prevent foreign governments or foreign non‑governmental sources from funding or providing in‑kind support for election administration in Arizona, increase transparency about vendors who provide election services, and tighten procedures and identity verification for the active early voting (mail ballot) list.

Key provisions
1. Prohibition on foreign donations for election administration (new §16‑407.04)
- Government entities may not use money or in‑kind goods/services donated, directly or indirectly, by a foreign government or foreign nongovernmental source for election administration.
- “Foreign nongovernmental source” is defined to mean an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national. Federally recognized tribal nations are excluded from the “foreign” definition.

  1. Vendor certifications and reporting

    • Any person or vendor providing election‑administration services must provide a dated, sworn certification to the Secretary of State stating they are not knowingly the recipient (directly or indirectly) of donations from a foreign source.
    • Certifications must be updated annually and within five business days if new disqualifying information is learned.
    • The Secretary of State must require government entities to file quarterly reports listing vendors that provide election‑administration services and must post vendor certifications on the Secretary of State website.

  2. Contract invalidation and penalties

    • Failure to provide a required certification, or providing an inaccurate certification, invalidates any agreement between the vendor and the government entity; the government entity is barred from entering or continuing contracts with that vendor.
    • Knowing false or omitted certifications: civil penalty equal to three times the money paid (or contracted) by the government entity; controlling persons of vendors are jointly and severally liable.

  3. Private right of action and remedies (new §16‑407.05)

    • Any qualified elector or state officer may sue to enjoin violations or enforce these provisions.
    • If claimant prevails, remedies include injunctive relief, damages of $1,000 per day from date of noncompliance (CPI‑adjusted) plus any statutory civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

  4. Changes to active early voting list and verification (amendment to §16‑544)

    • County recorders must issue a unique early voter ID number to each voter on the active early voting list; this ID is not a public record and is protected as personal identifying information.
    • Voters must make a written request to be added to the active early voting list and must confirm their address each election cycle to receive early ballots for that cycle.
    • County recorders must verify identity and address using the early voter ID or signature comparison; if unable to verify, the request to be placed on the list must be rejected.
    • (Text truncated) includes mailing of election notices not less than 90 days before certain elections.

  5. Other amendments (House Engrossed version)

    • The engrossed version indicates further amendments to multiple election‑code sections (precinct and polling‑place rules, voting centers, early ballot deadlines, and other sections). The provided text includes authority for boards to consolidate polling places when early‑ballot processing affects in‑person turnout.

Who would be affected
- State, county and local government election offices (administration, contracting and reporting obligations).
- Private vendors and organizations that provide election‑administration services (must certify and maintain compliance).
- Voters on or seeking to be on the active early voting (mail ballot) list (additional verification/confirmation requirements).
- Individuals or entities that previously provided foreign funding or in‑kind assistance (would be prohibited for election administration).
- Qualified electors and state officers (given private enforcement standing).

Potential impacts and considerations
- Administrative/compliance burden: vendors must collect and maintain sworn certifications and update them promptly; Secretary of State and counties must collect, post and manage additional records and quarterly reports.
- Contract risk: vendors that cannot or will not certify may lose existing or future contracts; government entities must avoid contracts with uncertified vendors.
- Litigation exposure: civil penalties (triple payments) and statutory damages ($1,000/day) create strong private‑enforcement incentives and potential for litigation.
- Voting access: stricter verification and requirement to confirm addresses each cycle could reduce inadvertent inclusion on the active early voting list or delay mail‑ballot access if verification fails.
- Definitions and exclusions: federally recognized tribal nations are explicitly not treated as “foreign”; the bill’s definition of “foreign nongovernmental source” is limited to individuals (not entities), which may raise interpretive questions.

Procedural status
- The header information supplied lists initial filing (Feb 11, 2025) and “Referred to Rules Committee.” Other action dates in the document appear inconsistent and may reflect different drafts or jurisdictions. Confirm current committee assignment and legislative status with the official state legislature website.

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

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