(The Center Square) – Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday signed legislation that will ban foreign funding of ballot measures in the state.
House Bill 337 prohibits non-U.S. citizens from funding any statewide initiative or referendum petition drive and require political action committees or other organizations that support or oppose such measures to file reports with the secretary of state attesting that they did not knowingly receive monetary donations from foreign nationals or entities.
“This bill, a key plank of our conservative election integrity agenda, is a landmark piece of legislation and pivotal to ensuring foreign nationals are banned from meddling in Wyoming elections,” the Secretary of State’s Office posted on X after the bill was signed into law.
The measure had the overwhelming support of lawmakers. It unanimously passed the state Senate Monday, 31-0. It passed the House last month, 58-2.
“A massive win for the people of Wyoming: foreign funding of state ballot issues is now banned,” Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust, told The Center Square in an emailed statement. Sutherland has testified before Congress on this issue and is seeking a similar federal ban.
The legislation is in part a response to Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who lives in Wyoming. Wyss, who is not a U.S. citizen, has donated more than $243 million to the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a progressive group that has spent more than $130 million on ballot measures in 25 U.S. states, according to RealClearPolitics.
“Wyomingites deserve to have their voices heard at the ballot box without foreign interests influencing voters and affecting election outcomes,” Catherine Gunsalus, director of state advocacy at Heritage Action, posted on X.
A similar law in Ohio is being challenged in court.
Dan McCaleb is the executive editor of The Center Square. He welcomes your comments. Contact Dan at dmccaleb@thecentersquare.com.